Come,
sit, stay for great new Benji movie
Dr.
Marty Becker - Knight Ridder Newspapers
On
November 18, 2001, a famed movie producer walked into a shelter and was
transfixed by a raggedy, abandoned mutt that had been picked up wandering
alone on the streets of Pass Christian, Mississippi. That movie producer
was Joe Camp, creator of the original Benji movies, and he was on a mission,
looking in animal shelters across the country. When he gazed into her
gentle eyes, he knew he had found his next star.
Now,
nearly three years later, that collaboration between Camp and his new
star is complete. The highly anticipated new movie, Benji Off The
Leash , opens in
theaters nationwide August 20.
For
Camp, it's been a personal mission. He wrote, directed and produced Benji
Off The Leash ,
resisting big bucks from studio executives, who Camp says wanted to lower
the base of his family movie. ?I had a conversation with one of them and
he said. ?This is what you have to put into kids' entertainment: violence,
sexual innuendo and potty jokes. It's the economic bottom line.' I got
angry
and went my own way, seeking private investors, to show those studios
what could be done; the responsible, right thing.?
Benji
Off The Leash is
a story about unlikely heroes. Benji is a dog, lost and alone, with no
one but a belligerent bird, a bungling stray mutt, and a 14-year-old boy
to help. With Benji in the lead and with incredible music composed and
conducted by Anthony DiLorenzo (he should get an academy award,) it tells
the story of how this band of comrades comes together for a common, courageous
purpose: to stop abuse of pets and people.
Test
audiences have touted this as the most hilarious Benji film ever. It features
a comic duo of dog catchers who can't seem to outsmart Benji. But it also
may be the most important; raising audience awareness about shelters and
shining a spotlight on animal abuse, teaching our children the importance
of compassion and courage.
?It
was significant that once again we find our next Benji in a shelter,
just like the original Benji,? says Camp. Benji jumpstarted the trend
for people to look for a mixed breed mutt at the local animal shelter
rather than the purebred puppies at the pet store. Since the first
Benji movie came out in 1975, mutts, canine cocktails, Heinz 57 remain
popular, chic, da bomb.
Camp
adopted his new Benji (Benji number four) and her movie side-kick Shaggy
from shelters. The current Benji is a female mixed-breed terrier believed
to be just under one year old when she was adopted in 2001.
This
is a summer touted to be one of the biggest in movie history, with
big
budget studios going head to head with their blockbuster releases.
But,
through it all, Camp feels optimistic that his ?little movie that could,' Benji Off The Leash ,
will prevail.
?I
honestly believe families want good, quality family entertainment.
They are tired of the junk and violence and sexual focus of movies today
that are marketed for kids.? This Benji movie allows families to take
a stand and show Hollywood the kind of movies they want more of.?
And
in fact, not just children, but adults as well, have enjoyed the powerful
message of love seen in the Benji movies.
Besides
parents who are raving about a great family fun movie, the critics are
showing new puppy exuberance for a unique movie that doesn't need computer
gimmicks or a talking dog to tell a timele
ss, tangible story:
?An
incredible story! Exciting, heartwarming and entertaining.?
Ted
Baehr - The Movie Guide
?Surefire
family entertainment! I'm giving this film my HOT vote!?
Leonard
Maltin - Hot Ticket
?Hilarious!
It captures the jo
y of a special dog and the simpleness of childhood.?
Gannett
Newspapers
?A
funny, exciting adventure. The canine cast is irresistible. I
swear, the main dogs in this film are acting.?
Phil
Boatwright - The Movie Reporter
?A
real treat!?
<
strong>Susana
Gora - Premiere Magazine
Our
family likes movies and when we watched a sneak preview of Benji Off
The Leash for a
shelter fundraiser, entire families laughed out loud, a lot, and at the
end of the movie the entire theater resonated with thunderous applause
and cheering. When the lights came on you could see many people wiping
away tears. With my own blurry eyes, I looked into the faces of
people ages five to eighty five, and verified this movie moves people.
A
great movie, a great message, and help finding homeless pets new homes.
What more could we ask for? I give this movie my highest possible
end
orsement and greatest sense of urgency: A must see movie on opening
weekend to guarantee this movie has four good legs to run on for many
weeks!
Benji
Off The Leash opens August 20th.
You
can visit www.benji.com for
more information.
|