Movie and Film Profile: The Shaggy Dog (2006)

The Shaggy Dog was generally released theatrically on March 20, 2006. Produced by Walt Disney Pictures in association with Mandeville Films, Boxing Cat Films, Tollin/Robbins Productions, and Robert Simonds Productions, and distributed by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution. It is a remake of Disney’s 1959 classic film The Shaggy Dog with a modern science-based twist. The original film was based on the 1923 novel “The Hound of Florence” written by German author Felix Salten (also known for writing “Bambi, a Life in the Woods”).

DMFE Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.00 out of 5 stars)

Caution: Possible Spoilers Ahead!

Deputy District Attorney Dave Douglas is focused almost entirely on his career, leaving little time for his wife Rebecca and their children Carly and Josh. Dave is prosecuting Carly’s environmentalist teacher, Justin Forrester, who is accused of vandalizing a biotechnology company called Grant and Strictland.

Meanwhile, the company’s head scientist, Dr. Marcus Kozak, has been conducting secret genetic experiments on animals using a rare 300-year-old Tibetan sheepdog with unusual longevity. The dog escapes and is taken home by Carly, who names it Shaggy. When Dave is bitten by the dog, he becomes infected with its genetic mutation.

Dave soon begins transforming into a sheepdog at random moments. The strange condition causes chaos in his professional life and eventually leads to him losing his court case. However, his experience as a dog also helps him reconnect with his family and understand the cruelty of the company’s experiments.

While investigating the laboratory in dog form, Dave discovers Kozak’s illegal testing and a plot to take control of the company. After escaping the lab with help from the other animals, Dave exposes the truth in court. Kozak is arrested, and the experiments are shut down.

Dave’s family relationships improve, and the Douglas family takes a vacation to Hawaii with Shaggy. Although the transformation curse appears cured, Dave still shows occasional dog-like instincts.

The soundtrack for The Shaggy Dog was released on March 14, 2006, and contains the film’s score, which was composed by Alan Menken. The soundtrack also includes some musical tracks from the film including “Big Dog,” written and performed by Akon, “Man’s Best Friend,” written by Sam Hollander and Michael Mangini and performed by The Click Five, “Atomic Dog,” written by George Clinton, Garry Shider and David Spradley and performed by George Clinton, “Every Dog Has Its Day,” written by Keith Volpone, Bill Brandt and Walter Brandt and performed by Ja Ja Biggs, “Woof! There It Is,” performed by Kevin Mathurin, and “It’s A Dog,” performed by Kyle Massey.

First released on home video (DVD) on August 1, 2006. The Shaggy Dog is not available on Disney+.

CAST & CREW

• Director: Brian Robbins
• Producer(s): Tim Allen, David Hoberman 
• Executive Producer(s): Matthew Carroll, William Fay, Tom Lieberman, Robert Simonds
• Screenplay: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler, Geoff Rodkey, Cormac Wibberley (as The Wibberleys), Marriane Wibberley (as The Wibberleys)
• Cinematography: Gabriel Beristain, BSC, ASC
• Production Designer: Leslie McDonald (as Leslie Mcdonald)
• Art Director(s): Donald T. Dorrance
• Costume Designer: Molly Maginnis
• Editor: Ned Bastille, ACE
• Visual Effects Supervisor: Stephen Rosenbaum
• Casting by: Juel Bestrop, CSA, Jeanne McCarthy, CSA
• Music: Alan Menken
• Cast: Tim Allen (as Dave Douglas), Kristin Davis (as Rebecca Douglas), Zena Grey (as Carly Douglas), Spencer Breslin (as Josh Douglas), Robert Downey Jr. (as Dr. Marcus Kozak), Danny Glover (as Ken Hollister), Joshua Leonard (as Justin Forrester), Philip Baker Hall (as Lance Strickland), Shawn Pyfrom (as Trey), Jane Curtin (as Judge Claire Whitaker, Annabelle Gurwitch (as Justin Forrester’s Attorney), Jane Hajduk (as News Reporter), Joel David Moore (Pound Employee), Jarrad Paul (as Larry), Philip Pavel (as Highway Driver as Phil Pavel), Rhea Seahorn (as Lori), Bess Wohl (as Dr. Gwen Lichtman), Cole (as The Shaggy Dog)

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• MPAA Rating: PG
• Runtime: 98 minutes
• Sound: Dolby Digital, Digital Theater Systems (DTS), Sony Dynamic Digital Sound (SDDS)
• Format: Color
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Genre(s): Comedy, Fantasy, Live-Action (from movies.disney.com)

BOX OFFICE (from IMDb.com)

• Budget: $50,000,000 (estimated)
• Opening Weekend (U.S. & Canada): $16,310,047
• Gross (U.S. & Canada): $61,123,569
• Gross (Worldwide): $87,134,280

RATINGS

• My Rating: 3.0 (out of 5) (20 out of 35, 57.14, 2.857)
• Rotten Tomatoes: 25% (Tomatometer) | 39% (Popcornmeter)
• Metacritic: 43 (Metascore) | 5.2 (Popcornmeter)
• IMDb: 4.4 (out of 10)
• The Movie DB: 49% (User Score)
• Letterboxd: 1.9 (out of 5)
• Combined Rating: 43.75

MY THOUGHTS
While not as memorable as Disney’s original The Shaggy Dog, this remake is still a fun, family-friendly comedy with plenty of silly moments. Tim Allen’s energetic performance and the film’s lighthearted tone make it an easy watch, even if the predictable story and broad humor keep it from being truly standout.

Have you seen The Shaggy Dog? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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