ThiefHott Too much of everything

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Motompa Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.

Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

John T. Ryan Big Budgets, High Tech Special FX and lot$ of Big Buck$ Ballyhoo in promotions and advertising are elements that we associate with Big Box Office $ucce$$! And it is to some extent that we would heartily concur. It never hurt to have all of these big guns firing full blast when a picture is going into general release. The thought prevailing thought here is that you gotta let'em know yer picher's out dere! Personal appearances or "special guest starring "promotional tours are an extension of all this. Thus, the Producer, Director, Star or other Actors involved are sent out on a tour; making the rounds of the old usual circuit of "Plugola". They get booked, along with a Clip from their film to be on Letterman, Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Today Show, Good Morning America, Regis, The View, etc., etc..But investing all the above and then some, will not guarantee even a modest success. A good case in point is the Triple Strength and Elongated spot granted on ABC Television's GOOD MORNING America to plug the current Left Wing Propaganda film, LIONS FOR LAMBS.GMA Hostess, Diane Sawyer devoted an at least a double segment to its promotion. The piece featured Stars Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep and Star/Producer/Director Robert Redford. The usual questions and mandatory clips were strongly in evidence; but Miss Sawyer added in a heavy dose of syrupy small talk and giggles to season the whole thing. And even with this extended mutual admiration society and personally oriented "Gigglefest' , with plenty of voice-over laughter and schmoozy banter by Hostess Sawyer, this the greatest film since CITIZEN KANE, is bombing big time at the one place where all the B.S. in the World cannot help, at the Box-Office!* In direct contrast, we have some rather small, sort of non-descript films can barely get released; but somehow do. Then, because they do have something to offer the Public, they take off like a snowball rolling down a steep slope, getting more and more speed and power as it goes. All of this because of having a story that has something for Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Citizen. As for examples over the years we have examples such as: AIRPLANE!(1980), MY BIG FAT Greek WEDDING (2002) and even American GRAFFITI (1973).So this brings us to Today's Lucky subject, namely Independent Writer/Producer/Director Joe Camp's BENJI (1974). Mr. Camp took a good, veteran cast of players and building around it with some largely unknown players, like Cynthia Smith and Allen Fiuzat, the Kids in the story. The adults in the film are mostly well known to the public from their previously done work, mostly in front of TV Cameras. The cast included Peter Breck, Frances Bavier, Patsy Garrett and Edgan Buchanan.There was one more veteran player and he was "Higgins" the mongrel pup who had been featured on "PETTICOAT JUNCTION" (1963-70). He was one happily retired pooch when Owner/Trainer/Wrangler, Mr. Frank Inn brought him in for an audition. So here he was! Higgins was a bigger Star than ever before.Director Camp went through painstaking steps to tell so much of the story from the "Dog's Eye View." The methods applied were akin to that applied in the Days of Silent Pictures. The Story was very visual and would have suffered with too-much of a script, especially if poor little Benji had too many lines to memorize and deliver.It has been said that "……Children and Dogs bring People together." and a Movie like this sure stands as testimony to the veracity of this old proverb.When you watch it, have your Kids or Grand Kids with you. And try to see it as if though their eyes.

Poseidon-3 One of the cinema's all-time favorite pooches made his big screen debut here in what began as a low-budget kiddie flick, but turned into an almost global sensation. Higgins the Dog (hereafter referred to as Benji), a shelter rescue who had made a few appearances on the Paul Henning sitcoms "Green Acres" and particularly "Petticoat Junction", stars here as a lovable stray who spends every day of his life traipsing from location to location. Each morning begins at Breck's house (unbeknownst to Breck!) where he gets his breakfast from the friendly housekeeper Garrett and receives affection from Breck's two children Fiuzat and Smith. Then it's off to the park for a visit with policeman Carter (and a little snack.) Following a daily scuffle with Bavier's white cat, he stops by the local café for a bone from friendly proprietor Buchanan (who Benji worked with on "Petticoat Junction".) Each day ends with a trip back to his "home", an abandoned, antique-filled estate where he keeps a makeshift bed behind an old chest. Life is great. He even meets a girlfriend in the fluffy and white Tiffany! One day, however, Benji is thrown for a loop when a quartet of troublemakers comes into his house and decides to use it as a base of operations for their upcoming criminal scheme. It's up to Benji to put these folks out of business which is no easy feat when he can't talk and no one seems interested in following him. To say that the leading canine is charming and adorable is an understatement. Somehow, his trainer has managed to capture an array of remarkable expressions and movements from him and he is perfectly captivating. Today, films featuring animals usually take the easy way out and use computer animation to achieve various looks and stunts. Not here. This is a real dog making real moments happen. It's no wonder Benji was a sensation after this. Despite the use of minor TV actors in virtually every other role, very few of the humans in the film make any sort of impact. Garrett probably has the largest role and she's not bad. Like most of the rest of the cast, she's hampered by some very obvious looping in post-production, perhaps due to extraneous noise while shooting on location. The children are very awkwardly amateurish, particularly Fiuzat. Breck has little to do and does it without a lot of conviction. Buchanan is rather charming in his lackadaisical way, Carter is likable enough and Bavier does an excellent job with her minor role. Granted, the script is hardly top-notch, but as the three (young?) men of the bad guys, Lester, Connelly and Slade are embarrassingly bad. The direction does them no favors either. Special scorn, however, must go to the truly hideous bit of "acting" turned in by Walley as the gang's lone female. She is atrocious; never more so than when she tries to avoid being uncovered by Benji near the films end. During the bulk of the film, there is a leisurely pace that may not sit well with viewers used to more frenetic editing and action. However, no one can deny the innate charm of the little four-legged star (and, to a lesser extent, his furry leading lady!) Dog-lovers will take him to heart, no matter the less-than-stellar production values.

aimless-46 If you are like me and observed the original "Benji" phenomenon from afar, finally seeing the movie for the first time 30+ years later, you may be shocked to discover how truly awful it is, and more mystified than ever about its popularity back in 1974.My judgment is not entirely objective as I tend to have a favorable bias toward children's films and for that reason cut them considerable slack. On the other hand I have always hated this particular dog, a feature on the last couple seasons of "Petticoat Junction". Never a great show, the dog-less early episodes were at least a nice showcase of beautiful actresses and the introduction of the dog cut into their screen time.Benji is an 86-minute mega-dose of the dog, following him on several daily circuits through the town of McKinney, Texas. If this sounds boring you would be advised to give "Benji" a wide birth and to never let your remote control fall into the hands of a "Benji" fan (if there are still any out there). Unlike "My Dog Skip", "Monkey Business" or "Because of Winn-Dixie" the human actors in the cast are extremely weak. "Big Valley's" Peter Breck plays the standard stern father and just seems to embarrassed at the idea of appearing in something this lame. If one of your children (of any age) appears to be finding "Benji" entertaining you should consider cutting back on their medication.Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

preppy-3 This adorable dog (called various names during the film) is seemingly loved by the whole town...but he's alone. He is friends with two children (Cindy and Paul played astonishingly bad) but their father won't let them have a dog. Then Benji meets Tiffany--ANOTHER adorable dog. They (instantly) fall in love and it leads to a hysterical montage of the two of them frolicking in the grass, drinking from a fountain...in slow motion no less! Also Benji lives in the cleanest abandoned house I've ever seen. Then the two kids are kidnapped by the most inept, unfunniest kidnappers I've ever seen and--wouldn't you know it--they hide the brats in the exact house Benji lives in! WOW was this bad! A huge hit (for some reason) in 1974 which led to many sequels (which I will NOT see). The film is just terribly acted with "humor" so unfunny and badly done that you just stare at the TV in amazement. The film also has a song that is played NONSTOP during the movie--so much that you want to scream. It was inexplicably nominated for Best Song at the Oscars--it didn't win. Yeah--the dogs are adorable and much better than the human actors--but I need more than cute dogs to keep me interested.You might think I'm being a little hard on a kids film but I saw it with my 5 year old nephew. Within 20 minutes he was bored silly and basically stopped watching. I kept watching in hope that it would get better--it didn't. Really lousy--but VERY patient kids or dog lovers might like it.Note to parents: It's G rated but a dog is viciously kicked a few times. You don't see it--you just hear it and the dog survives but this might bother real young kids.