← Back to results
Underdog
2007 82 min United States of America PG 12+
★4.6
Family, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Director: Frederik Du Chau
🎭 Based on
«Underdog»
Trailers
Description
A lab accident gives a beagle named Shoeshine some serious superpowers -- a secret that the dog eventually shares with the young boy who becomes his owner and friend.
Budget:
$25M
US Gross:
$43.76M
Worldwide:
$65.27M
Starring
Peter Dinklage
Actor
Jason Lee
Actor
Amy Adams
Actor
Awards
3 nominations total
Key opinion
Underdog is widely viewed as a disposable, formulaic film that struggles to engage adults but serves as passable, harmless entertainment for young children. While the visual effects and the charm of the canine protagonist are generally acknowledged as bright spots, the derivative script and uninspired humor prevent it from succeeding as a broader family feature.
| Originality | The canine lead is visually appealing and serves as the film's most successful charming element. | |
| Production | The visual effects, particularly the initial flight sequences, stand out as the most polished technical achievement. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay relies heavily on tired, predictable superhero clichés that lack wit or narrative depth. | |
| Humor | The humor is consistently viewed as simplistic and ineffective, failing to land with any audience beyond very young children. | |
| Acting | Performances are highly polarizing; some critics find James Belushi to be a highlight, while others label the acting across the board as poor or unengaged. | |
| Accessibility | The film’s target demographic is a point of contention: it is widely considered acceptable for young children, but adults find the experience tedious and forgettable. |