Mon ami Dodger

I saw this at the dollar theater several years ago on a rainy day with my friend Andrea, who was pregnant and we wanted to see a good family movie. I'm not a big supporter of seeing monkeys as the star of films, but this was a good one. All the little girl (Thora Birch, who several years later became famous for playing the daughter in American Beauty) wanted was a pet, and the writers crafted a cute, touching story. Good performances all around.

"Monkey Trouble" tells of an organ grinder's (Keitel) pickpocket monkey who abandons his boss and adopts a young girl (Birch) leading to much monkey business. All of the human actors in this corny flick are upstaged by the monkey star whose antics make this predictable family comedy worth watching. Nuff said.

Thora Birch plays Eva Boylan, a young girl who befriends a a sweet monkey, who she names 'Dodger'. 'Dodger's mean owner, Kohn played by the brilliant Harvey Keitel wants him back though as he uses 'Dodger' to help steal from people and he will do anything to get him back.

A young Thora Birch gives a great performance here, as does the brilliant Harvey Keitel. Mimi Rogers is also good as mum Amy.

Monkey Trouble is such a cute and a very entertaining family movie with some really great performances from everyone. Monkey Trouble is one for the kids and the grown-ups. See it!

No, seriously I've seen tons of Family movies, some are heartwarming, some are deep, some shallow but funny, and after watching how many of my favorites Family movies have been re-made I kinda thought ideas are running out and mainly I've seen it all. Every once in a while, however, I stumble upon an old flick that for whatever reason I had skipped in the past and leaves me really impressed. I picked this title because I loved little Thora Birch in "Patriot Games and "Paradise" and I thought let's give it a try, I read also that Harvey Keitel was in it, so I thought maybe there is a good movie that I've missed. Didn't expect much, after all I've seen it all in Family movies, dolphins, gorillas, orcas, mice, parrots, cats, dogs, llamas, so what a monkey could bring in addition to that. Well, when you think you've seen it all, something will stun you, that is this movie, Thora Birch at her best no doubt about it, the monkey is so funny, and script absolutely hilarious, specially about the confusion over framing the adorable protagonist as a common thief, well I'm not gonna give anything up, but give it a try I bet you will enjoy it.

This little girl in here (played by Thora Birch) is a little annoying because of her constant lying. However, in the end - as in most stories that dealing with people who lie all the time - she sees that the troubles she's encountered are due to those prevarications.

The monkey in here is fun to watch. It was also nice to see Mimi Rogers in a wholesome and - gasp - even more shocking: Harvey Keitel not utter a bad word. Rogers and Christopher MacDonald play too-liberal parents, discipline- wise, but otherwise this is a pretty enjoyable lightweight film that moves along at a good clip.

It's not memorable, but it's family-safe and a decent movie for the adults, too.