Benji off the leash is written-directed-produced by Joe Camp which
is like an old-fashioned small boy-and-his-loving dog story, in which the dog
is not played by any computer generated character but by an actual flesh-and-fur
real dog. This is a film which is independently produced and distributed by Joe
Camp, who made the first Benji film back in 1974. This is the fourth cute Benji
film since the original, with the fourth different Benji to play the role. The
movie has a winning role played by Shaggy who befriends with cute Benji.
Colby played by Nick Whitake, is a 14 years old boy, lives with his mother played
by Christy Summerhays and, cruel and abusive stepfather played by Chris Kendrick
in a small Southern town. His stepfather runs illegal Mississippi puppy mill in
his back yard. When his prize breeder gives birth to a useless mixed-breed puppy,
the abusive Stepfather tries to get rid him and plans to put it to death. The
big, blond, big-eyed Benji - but Colby rescues the lovable pooch. Colby names
him Puppy and hides him in the abandoned school bus that is his private fort.
This place also has a parrot named Gypsy living there, who turns out to be a help
to Colby in taking care of Puppy.
As Benji grows up to mature dogdom, he realizes that now he has only one real
mission in life which is to rescue his sick mother from the puppy farm ran under
cruel authority of the farm owner. With the help of Colby and Shaggy, Benji
sets out to make things right.
The real heroes of the movie are Shaggy and Benji. To our surprise, the character
isn't even called "Benji" until the last few minutes of the film.
Another dog named Shaggy, was discovered in a Chicago animal shelter helps Puppy
from the newly found world but also from the brutal dogcatchers. Shaggy got
the name Lizard Tongue by benevolent animal-control officers Livingston (Randall
Newsome) and Sheldon (Duane Stephens) - because his tongue is very very long
in a very funny way.
This movie is too cute to resist. This a pet loving families and great fun
for kids. The film ends at a happy note. The step father is arrested and Colby
is happy with his mother who is safe now. The dogs live happily ever after.
