Yeah, the 1991 family film "Bingo" may be stupid, over the top, and completely fanciful, but the whole point is that it's basically a spoof of the entire "boy and his dog" genre, which was ripe enough for parody. It creates some effective laugh out loud moments while managing to never go overboard in terms of cuteness or sappiness, and keeping a fairly skewed sensibility. However, parents may want to check it out for themselves before watching it with their youngest children, as there are scenes that may be upsetting (it's not *that* family friendly). Still, there are some very bright moments and the cast is good, especially the wonderful female mongrel in the title role - a truly talented canine found in a shelter - trained by animal specialist Boone Narr.
Bingo is a dog who's run away from a circus and who comes into the life of a boy named Chuckie (the appealing Robert J. Steinmiller, Jr.). They become good friends, but Chuckie can't bring the dog into his home because his father, Hal (David Rasche), a place kicker for the Denver Broncos, dislikes animals. Wouldn't you know it: Hal gets traded from Denver to Green Bay, and the family must quickly move away, forcing Chuckie to leave the dog behind. Bingo then embarks on a series of silly misadventures while tracking the Devlin family cross country, incurring the wrath of two felons on the loose, Lennie (Kurt Fuller), and Eli (Joe Guzaldo).
This actually gets a little intense at times, such as any scene involving fire, and the whole sequence with the diner is likely going to bother some people (not just kids). But there's enough engagingly loopy comedy to counteract any bad taste that might be generated. Among other things, Bingo brings champagne to a hot-to-trot cocker spaniel, is made to walk a straight line by a traffic cop, takes the witness stand in a courtroom, and goes to a prison - a human prison. Cindy Williams and Rasche are fine as the parents, Fuller and Guzaldo appropriately scummy as the criminal duo, and the cast features other familiar faces such as Glenn Shadix, Janet Wright, Wayne Robson, and Suzie Plakson. Director Matthew Robbins ("Dragonslayer", "The Legend of Billie Jean", "*batteries not included") keeps the pace consistent and brings things to a lively finish; Jim Strains' script closes the movie on a hysterical final joke.
Fun stuff overall.
Seven out of 10.
Bingo is a dog who's run away from a circus and who comes into the life of a boy named Chuckie (the appealing Robert J. Steinmiller, Jr.). They become good friends, but Chuckie can't bring the dog into his home because his father, Hal (David Rasche), a place kicker for the Denver Broncos, dislikes animals. Wouldn't you know it: Hal gets traded from Denver to Green Bay, and the family must quickly move away, forcing Chuckie to leave the dog behind. Bingo then embarks on a series of silly misadventures while tracking the Devlin family cross country, incurring the wrath of two felons on the loose, Lennie (Kurt Fuller), and Eli (Joe Guzaldo).
This actually gets a little intense at times, such as any scene involving fire, and the whole sequence with the diner is likely going to bother some people (not just kids). But there's enough engagingly loopy comedy to counteract any bad taste that might be generated. Among other things, Bingo brings champagne to a hot-to-trot cocker spaniel, is made to walk a straight line by a traffic cop, takes the witness stand in a courtroom, and goes to a prison - a human prison. Cindy Williams and Rasche are fine as the parents, Fuller and Guzaldo appropriately scummy as the criminal duo, and the cast features other familiar faces such as Glenn Shadix, Janet Wright, Wayne Robson, and Suzie Plakson. Director Matthew Robbins ("Dragonslayer", "The Legend of Billie Jean", "*batteries not included") keeps the pace consistent and brings things to a lively finish; Jim Strains' script closes the movie on a hysterical final joke.
Fun stuff overall.
Seven out of 10.