Step Dogs

So we can go on and on about how amazing this movie was. The acting is PERFECT, and so is the directing and writing and cinematropghy and casting-- just- perfect! But i do unfortunaklly have one problem... its that i wasnt in this movie! How come i couldnt be meatball?? I was the one that they told couldve been casted. And not to throw shade on anybidy but that lady said i would "definitley be getting the role" and that "theyll email me soon" but guerss what? 7 years later. And im STILL waiting for that email... or, at least, i WAS. I was scrolling through the list of americas greatest movies and saw this gem, i thought itd bve fun to watch. However, though it was a perfect movie, i relized that this was the very movie that THEY TOLD ME i would be cast for. Disguisting buisness practices and horrible filmmaskers and horrendous casting directors, but, overall good movie.

Ok, yes, the storyline of comedic bungling burglers thwarted by kids, pets, or themselves has been done a ton of times. This one was cute and lighthearted viewing for a late evening movie before bed. Kid friendly, too, which I didn't have to think about, but FYI for those who do.

The first negative that bugged me was that the animators didn't do more eye expressions for the dogs or ear changes. They did a great job on lip movement for talking and even did a bit of eyebrow movement, but the eyes always remained wide open with no expressions through the eyelids or ears.

The second negative was the actress who played "Crystal." She gave a very flat and wooden delivery of her lines and facial expressions. The kids were great with their roles and the other actors did a very good job, too.

I gave it 3 because of the dogs and the step sister who all played their parts well. The problem with this film is they aren't in it enough. The 2 bungling burglars ( where have we seen that before ) are totally unfunny even with slapstick. When the dogs made their entrance I thought this could be good comedy. I was hoping the film would centre around them, but no, the most unfunny human characters took over, it's a shame, could have been good.

I watched this movie this evening via the free IMDb TV app on Roku. Whilst both of my dogs loved it and barked like crazy, it reminded me of the Home Alone movies and of culture shock when you take someone out of their normal peddy buse wah environment and introduce them to something entirely different.

I rented the movie because I was curious about the Belgium Malinois. So disappointed. I own a Malinois. These dogs live Mad-Eye Moody's constant vigilance mantra. Strangers are noticed, investigated and **not** licked. A Golden Retriever would have made the Meatball character more believable. The poor casting took me right out of this very weak story. The only surprise is that this got made at all. I did appreciate the setting; they shot the movie in a truly cold location as revealed by the ability to see the characters' breaths when they were outside and the sound of snow crunching when walked on. I wouldn't waste your time and money.