3/10
Pudsey the Dog: The Movie
1 July 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Ashleigh and Pudsey became the first dog trick act (the second being Jules O'Dwyer and Matisse, not as deserved, due to cheating) to win talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2012, and performing for the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance, and then they decided to give the dog a bone, well, a movie. Basically Pudsey the Dog (himself, voiced by BGT judge David Walliams) is a cheeky Border Collie, Bichon Frise and Chinese Crested powderpuff cross who walks off a movie set after being fired for causing havoc. He now walks the streets of London, but he is a happy stray lone ranger looking out for himself, but occasionally using his ability to walk on his hind legs and jumping skills to save the day. One day Pudsey meets siblings Molly (Izzy Meikle-Small), George (Spike White) and Tommy (Malachy Knights), he helps them rid of some school bullies, the three children take the dog home with them, but their mother Gail (Jessica Stevenson/Hynes) will not allow them to keep him. Pudsey is given to an eccentric woman who wants to dye his fur pink and do other horrible things, like she has to her poodles, but as Pudsey is specially trained he is able to open the door and escape, the poodles escape with him. Pudsey jumps into a white van to hide, this turns out to be the van moving his three friends to a new house in the countryside, in the village of Chuffington. The landlord Mr. Thorne (John Sessions), with his cat Faustus (Lorraine Kelly), appears friendly on the outside, but in fact he is an evil man scheming to destroy the house and the entire village to build a corporate construction. Pudsey stumbles upon this plan and tries to warn the family, but he caught and taken to the dog pound, however with the other doggie prisoners he is able to create a diversion plan, and they dig their way out. In the end the plans of Mr. Thorne are thwarted and he is arrested, and Pudsey is finally welcomed by Gail into the family and praised as a hero. Also starring Olivia Colman as Nelly the Horse, Jim Tavaré as Dog Catcher, Peter Serafinowicz as Edward the Horse, Dan Farrell as Ken the Pig and Finn the Dog. BGT judge Amanda Holden as Sally the Dog and Ashleigh Butler (Pudsey's trainer) as Anabella the Cow, she can also be seen in scenes towards the end. There is no denying Pudsey is an adorable animal, a dog who can dance and perform well, but his cuteness cannot be extended into a full length film, he is a bit of a one-trick puppy here, the story is predictable, the special effects for the animals to talk are wasted, and the jokes fall flat most of the time, this will certainly appeal to children and Simon Cowell, but many adults will be disappointed in this lacklustre family comedy. Adequate!
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