Shelby

Shelby is a corny family film that works if you watch it with kids in the run up to Christmas although even then their mileage will run out by the end.

Shelby is an unwanted beagle always escaping the dog pound and never getting away as the dogcatcher Doug (Tom Arnold) always catches up with him.

However Shelby manages to impress a rich lady and her son who come into the pound looking for a dog and are impressed when Shelby performs some tricks but he again escapes from the pound on Christmas Eve and gets taken in by aspiring young magician Jake (John Paul Ruttan).

However Doug has been offered a substantial sum of money by the rich lady to retrieve Shelby and Jake's family are not keen on another mutt in the house. So Jake keeps Shelby's stay in the house a secret but he just causes canine chaos.

Rob Schneider is the voice of Shelby who narrates the story and Chevy Chase is Jake's grandpa.

The film starts brightly enough as Shelby tries to evade Doug after he escapes. I guess it loses a little impetus when Shelby is hiding out in the family home but then picks up as the kids get together to rescue him.

It is not too schmaltzy or preachy, it has a bit of knockabout humour and even some toilet humour. As I said it is a bit of festive fun if you want to watch it with younger kids.

Watched this movie with my family tonight. My kids can rarely sit through a whole movie but had their eyes glued to the screen from beginning to end. This is a well written film with some popular actors. Great family picture. Chevy Chase plays his part well. Tom Arnold does too. The dog farts got my whole family laughing as we have a boxer and boxers do have gas. I will recommend this film to family and friends next Christmas. The scene towards the end where the dog catcher lays into the rich lady lays out some nice values for the kiddos. This film has potential to be another Christmas classic. I will definitely watch it again as this is one of those movies that I could see more than once and not get sick of it.