A lab accident gives a hound named Shoeshine some serious superpowers -- a secret that the dog eventually shares with the young boy who becomes his owner and friend.
The lackluster story connects the cliches but leaves the characters isolated. Underdog may have been originally created to sell cereal for General Mills, but this latest incarnation couldn't sell Frisbees at a dog park.
– Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
6 Aug 2007
rotten:
Whatever the intent, the result is unfit for humankind.
– Scott Tobias,
AV Club,
6 Aug 2007
rotten:
It's a harmless bore.
– Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel,
6 Aug 2007
fresh:
After a lovably dopey prologue culled from the TV cartoon, this live-action adaptation gets down to the business of entertaining tweens, earnestly and nonironically.
– Joshua Rothkopf,
Time Out New York,
9 Aug 2007
fresh:
The endearing airborne-beagle effects help to offset the formula twists.