AIR BUD: GOLDEN RECEIVER

• Starring Kevin Zegers, Gregory Harrison
• Directed by Richard Martin
• Rated PG; running time 91 minutes
• With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a 4

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(Aug. 14, 1998) -- The original Air Bud was an amusing 1997 family film about a dog who could knock a basketball into the hoop with a flip of his nose.

The movie was a surprising extension of a David Letterman "stupid pet trick." Astonishingly, it turned out to be a fun film. But filmmakers are pushing their luck with the new sequel, Air Bud: Golden Receiver.

The original producer and writers have fashioned a new screenplay with only one obvious change: The canine catches footballs.

Though the original, real-life Buddy has gone on to the great kennel in the sky, six other Buddy look-alikes have been hired to play the dog in this unimaginative sequel, directed by Richard Martin.

Beyond the dog tricks, the first Air Bud dealt with a boy named Josh (Kevin Zegers) coming to grips with the recent death of his father. Now Josh has a new emotional crisis: His mom (Cynthia Stevenson) has a new boyfriend (Gregory Harrison).

Josh, meanwhile, joins the school football team, a hapless crew trained by the amiable Coach Fanelli (Robert Costanzo).

But just when things look bleak for Josh and his losing team, Buddy runs onto the field and makes a catch that would make Jerry Rice proud.

Before you know it, Buddy has his own helmet and silly-looking shoulder pads, and is running deep patterns for the team. (Surprisingly, no one questions a dog's presence on the team.)

As stunts go, a dog catching a football is less impressive than making baskets. Clearly, the ball is deflated so the animal can wrap his teeth around it.

Adults also won't be impressed with Golden Receiver's lame subplot: Two Russian clones of Boris and Natasha try to kidnap Buddy for their traveling circus. Weakly written and played over the top by Nora Dunn and Perry Anzilotti, the characters are a grating distraction.

Air Bud: Golden Receiver will entertain young children, but it lacks the cleverness and innocent spirit that made the first also enjoyable for their parents.

And here's more bad news: With all those sports out there, Air Bud movies could go on forever.

Soccer, of course, makes the most sense -- players don't need hands.

But if Golden Receiver makes money, we may also see Buddy gliding on tiny hockey skates, doggie-paddling into a game of water polo, or nosing a golf ball into the cup.

Doggone it, the possibilities are endless.