FOUR PAWS UP FOR BENJI OFF THE LEASH!

By Steve Dale, Nationally Syndicated Columnist
WGN Chicago Radio Host

Our world has never been as unpredictable as it is today. That’s why the familiar face and dependable happy tail wagging ending in the new Benji film, “Benji Off the Leash!” coming out in theaters August 20, is so comforting. And one more thing, it’s a darn good movie.

Lots of famous movie directors have written that good movies are nothing more than good stories. And, you know you’ve done your job if you take the audience along for the ride.

At the advance screening I attended, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Full disclosure necessitates I point out that house was filled with animal lovers since this was a benefit for Animal Care and Control in Chicago. But I can’t fathom even the steeliest ‘manly man’ not being melted by this little dog.

Unlike Lassie stories where the humans are really the stars, Benji is truly the star of his movie. And he says all he has too with a few barks. Still, amazingly, you know exactly what Benji’s thinking. That’s been the secret formula for all four Benji flicks, from the first Benji movie in 1971 through the last one, “Benji the Hunted” in 1987.
This new Benji is every bit as appealing as the first scruffy dog. He plays an indomitable canine who refuses to give up. Still, no matter how much you persevere you are, you need a little help from your friends. His side-kick is Lizard Tongue, a clutzy hound whose middle name might as well be trouble. We’ve all known dogs like this, and we love them just the same.

In the movie, Benji is born to a litter of dogs from a puppy mill, and the backyard puppy mill’s owner Hatchett (played by Chris Kendrick), orders his son to leave oddball looking puppy to die. Instead, of obeying his father’s wishes, 14-year old Colby (Nick Whitaker) rescues the pupster and raises him in his very cool-looking secret club house, with help from a bi-polar cockatoo. As puppy mills do in real life, Hatchett is intent on breeding his dogs to death, literally. And as Benji grows up, he is determined to rescue his own mother, who by now is very ill, from the puppy mill.

Along the way, Benji meets that free spirited dog named Lizard Tongue, who somehow has managed to survive in spite of himself. Both dogs encountered a crusty 60ish year old guy (played exceedingly well by Neal Barth) who thinks he needs no one. We’ve all known people like this.

The guy grumbles about it, but takes in Lizard Tongue. I’m sure characters like this guy tell people, ‘Well, I’m giving the wandering mutt a place to live .’ Yes, he did that. But that dog also made his lonely house a home. When Lizard Tongue momentary leaves, you can tell the man’s heart breaks. What’s magical about this movie is that yours will too.

Everything the characters on screen feel, including the dogs, you’ll feel too. How many movies can you say that about?

I suspect some of the professional film critics may call the movie cornball. But they aren’t very adept film critics if they do. Peel away layers, and you’ll discover this movie pays attention to some very serious issues. Of course, being a pet columnist, I very much appreciate that producer/writer Joe Camp – who created Benji all those years ago – isn’t afraid to display just how despicable puppy mills really are. Camp also draws attention to the link between abuse to animals and spousal and/or child abuse. I can’t think of a single movie that’s made this point, ever.

Camp has been criss-crossing the nation, boldly promoting the film, and stating to anyone who will listen that both Benji and Lizard Tongue were rescued from shelters. Based on the Dalmatian craze following those “101” movies, if this film is an even a modest hit, I’m hoping that going to shelters to find dogs will be a craze as well. And Camp does too, embarking on an aggressive campaign to raise awareness of the countless thousands of dogs seeking homes.

Camp financed this project on his own without Hollywood backing, very much like Mel Gibson recently did for “The Passion of the Christ,” "Benji Off the Leash!" might just as well be called "Benji: Passion of the Dog." I’ve met Joe Camp, and I know he sincerely wants to offer the audience an alternative, a movie to take the kids to, and take grandma to – no one is offended by gratuitous violence or vulgar language.

Like the star of his film, Camp never gave up, and a movie that never could have made it this far has made it. But they reality is that you can’t wait three weeks to see it. If everyone does that, it won’t last three weeks. If you don’t see this movie, you have no right to complain ever again that wholesome movies aren’t being made.

Besides, there’s another reason to see “Benji Off the Leash!” It’s a selfish reason. Like that crusty guy who needed a warm cuddly friend even more than that dog needed him, right now we can all use a little predictable Benji to make us feel good.
Yes – I do rate this film, “Four Paws Up.”

Steve Dale is a nationally syndicated columnist with weekly radio shows on Chicago’s WGN and Animal Planet Radio.