UNDERDOG
Wholesome superhero fun for younger families, with less comic panache.
Should You Watch It?
This live-action Underdog is not great filmmaking, but it is good, wholesome fun for younger families. Its strongest qualities are its positive moral messages and its invitation to use your gifts to help others. It could be a pleasant first big-screen experience for a young child.
The movie falls short of the old cartoon’s comic panache. It is too serious in places, and it lacks the funny, distinctive voices that made the original series enjoyable. The message is also slightly diminished when Underdog uses his powers to steal a woman’s doggy bag.
If you want a gentle superhero adventure for younger children, take the family to see it.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESA beagle trying to serve as a bomb-sniffing police dog is taken by the evil scientist Simon Barsinister. After an accidental splash of Barsinister’s special serum, the dog escapes and is found by security guard Dan Unger.
Dan names him Shoeshine and takes him home to his son, Jack, who is mourning his mother’s death and struggling at school. When Jack and Shoeshine discover the dog’s new powers—including the ability to talk—they decide those gifts should be used to help people.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a fun family movie with clear limitations. The story provides plenty of wholesome entertainment, and Patrick Warburton is the cast member most successful at creating a truly unique comic character.
The film is too serious for a comedy built around a superhero dog. It also lacks the wacky voices and comic-book spoofing that gave the original cartoon its panache. The script is not great, but the movie remains a pleasant introduction to big-screen moviegoing for younger children.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong moral worldview about serving others by using one’s gifts to fight evil. Jack encourages Shoeshine to use his super powers to help people, and Underdog vows to protect the citizens of Capitol City. The story also includes a boy dealing with the death of his mother.
That positive message is slightly marred when Underdog steals a woman’s doggy bag as she leaves a restaurant. The film also includes a conceited henchman who says he treats his body “like a Buddhist temple.” Still, its central emphasis is that abilities should be used for the good of others rather than selfish gain.
The film’s call to serve others with one’s gifts aligns with Scripture: “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview about serving others by using one’s gifts to fight evil marred by a scene where the superhero steals a woman’s doggy bag as she’s leaving a restaurant, plus conceited henchman says he treats his body “like a Buddhist temple”; one butt, and one light exclamatory profanity, and light, brief toilet humor about dog behavior; light comic violence such as flying dog superhero punches criminals, dog with super powers unintentionally wrecks living room and sends chili flying in kitchen, villain ties up man and threatens him, explosion, and comic pratfalls; no sex; male dog nudity visible; no alcohol; no smoking; and, hero steals doggy bag from woman leaving restaurant, villain’s henchman tries to rob jewelry store, and villain blackmails city.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Jack encourages Shoeshine to use his gifts to help people. What gifts has God given you, and how could you use them to serve others?
1 Peter 4:10 · Romans 12:6–8Shoeshine begins as a police dog who makes mistakes. How should we respond when our failures make us feel unable to do good?
Micah 7:8 · Philippians 1:6The film shows Jack mourning his mother’s death. How can a family make room for grief while still holding on to hope?
Psalm 34:18 · Romans 12:15Underdog’s message is weakened when he steals a doggy bag. Why does doing good not give us permission to do wrong?
Romans 12:21 · 1 Thessalonians 5:22The Final Word
Underdog offers younger families wholesome superhero fun and a positive message about serving others, even if it lacks the original cartoon’s comic spark. For a gentle first theater experience, WORTH THE TRIP.
