Miracle Dogs

Adorable!!
The combination of the little boy with these puppies was enough to make me shed a tear. I bought this movie for my 9-year old son, thinking that he may be almost too old for a traditional "family film". But he loved it as much as I did! The story starts with a family that has just moved to a new city, and they are all trying to adjust to a new neighborhood, new jobs, new friends, etc. Desperate for some companionship, the little boy (Charlie) befriends a three-legged dog, whose leg was removed after the vet discovered cancer, and her litter of puppies. Charlie goes on a quest to find homes for the puppies and their mother before the local animal shelter learns about the homeless dogs. While temporarily housing them in the basement of the hospital, the dogs escape and patients in the hospital begin to get well at an inexplicable rate. The dogs don't have super powers, and the film doesn't have an overtly religious theme. But there is a good message about family and...

REFRESHING PAWS
It would be very easy to dismiss MIRACLE DOGS as a saccharine-sweet unbelievable family film, but that would be rather Grinchish or Scroogish. Sure, it's predictable and filled with every movie cliche of this type of film. But it's heart is so big and in the right place, one can't help but feel a little fuzzy after watching it. The dogs are irresistibly cuddly and little Josh Hutcherson is so believable as the little boy, the movie manages to entertain in spite of its sugary delivery. I've always enjoyed watching Kate Jackson since her days on "Dark Shadows" and although she isn't given a lot to do in this film, her radiance remains. KNOTS LANDING'S Ted Shackelford and MIKE HAMMER'S Stacy Keach likewise are serviceable in their roles, and Rue McClanahan makes a convincing lonely old rich lady. I don't know if there's a lot of validity in "Zoo Medicine" but I do know from my own experience that having a pet can make an important impact on one's life, so MIRACLE DOGS at least...

Great Animal Movie
My son and I really enjoyed this movie! It is heartwarming, inspiring, and spiritually thought provoking; albeit somewhat predictable at times. The really big plus is that the plot is believable and did not anthropomorphasize (give the dogs human traits/capabilities a la Stuart Little and Chiken Run)the dogs. Animal Lovers will rejoice.

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