Firehouse Dog (Full Screen Edition) Reviews

• Hot Mutt

  
  By A37PV5GMP2ILJC on 2007-09-01
  This is a good old fashioned family movie about a boy and a dog, and of course, like all shaggy dog tales, the mutt is the star. Celebrity dog Rexxx (note the x's) chucks in his glamorous poodle-filled life to become a firehouse dog, the only fringe benefits being that he can chase the fire-engine and investigate a lot of hydrants.
  
  He adopts a young boy named Shane, who is rather unwilling at first, but after some aerial acrobatics, a few search and rescues and a lot of canine flatulence, Shane finally gets around to appreciating Rexxx, even though he mistakenly believes his name to be Dewey. "Dewey" soon rises to the rank of mascot, and is duly appreciated by the humans, especially the inhabitants of the Dogpatch Fire Station, who although friendly enough, don't seem to be the sharpest tools in the shed.
  
  There are two other stories filling out the movie, one being the relationship between Shane and his firefighter father, and the other being the mystery of the curiously contagious conflagrations in the Dogpatch area.
  
  Corny and cheesy in places, but never whiny, this is a movie you can watch with small kids (your teenagers may be otherwise occupied), but as you will see, the star of this movie is undoubtedly the hot mutt.
  
  
  
  Amanda Richards, September 1, 2007
  
  
  

• Reviewer from Sweden - 5 star film!

  
  By AA0NBT9XMNEJF on 2007-06-22
  I'm a 25 year old boy and I'm a Josh Hutcher fan, and this film is one of the best. First of all - I really enjoy when animals, like this dog, has the leading part! Everyone who like those kind of movies (like Air Bud) like this film too. Its a very fun film for anyone, age 7-100! Thanks for reading my review & Greetings from Sweden :-)
  
  

• Great Family Film

  
  By AJ8D44UOSD8ST on 2007-06-25
  My family saw this movie two times and really enjoyed it - all of us (ages: 44, 40, 15, 13, 11 and 7). There are some very funny moments and the film has a great message about family. I highly recommend the film for your DVD collection - it is one that will be watched over and over.
  
  

• Lame but Lovable 'Dog'

  
  By A3EE0H0NWQ9QVL on 2007-09-23
  Critics will undoubtedly have a bone to pick with `Firehouse Dog'. I can hear all sorts of comments coming to roost: "Lame and predictable 'Dog' ,...What a dog!...too doggone routine,...you can't teach these screenwriters new tricks...let this one roll over and play dead." I have to admit that this movie is often dumb (and I usually don't like dumb movies), but it often contains some decent family entertainment. The jokes are nearly all dumb, but at least they are effective nearly half of the time. While there are enough "spots" to tarnish this film, it has some solid components and redeeming qualities.
  
  The premise isn't unusual. Prima donna canine movie star Rexxx has an implausible accident during a stunt in a scene for a recent movie. Stray from the cast and crew, he hits the road and comes into the company of "Rescue 26/Engine 55," a neighborhood fire station whose existence is teetering on the contingency of budget cuts of all things. Following him is his ambitious and greedy agent who all but gives up the diva dog for good. Above the fire station is an administrator who has a plan of his own for the firehouse.
  
  While the plot sometimes makes one want to howl, the acting is laudably in prime shape. Josh Halverson (of 'Bridge to Terabithia' fame) ably plays Shane Fahey, a hapless son of the fire chief, who is scarred by the deaths of his mother and his uncle, whom his father replaced. Coming across a self-willed stray is hardly compensation for the pre-adolescent who only has a girl love interest and a concerned, but stern father to help him commiserate his inner wounds. Bruce Greenwood gives us a laudably earnest performance as his father, Connor, who must wear his badge warily with all the problems set before them.
  
  Whether campy or serious, the flashback scenes are particularly well done, and the dangers presented have enough direness without being a hazard to young psyches. At its meatier times, they get tongue-in-cheek as they bolster the formula even with Rex's portfolio. Having starred in 'The Fast and the Furriest' and 'Jurassic Bark,' Rex's fate lies whether he chooses the primrose path and the red carpet treatment or keeping it real where he's needed at the fire station. There's also a mock funeral scene that pokes fun of everyone involved. 'Firehouse Dog' is just ridiculous and real enough to work to keep the family satisfied, even if too many of the jokes remind one of the slick slapstick scenes when fire fighters slide down the firehouse pole.
  
  

• Effective blend of comedy drama / action comedy / animal fun.

  
  By A2JYIDH7JIG48H on 2007-08-04
  Firehouse Dog won't go down as one of the greatest family films in history (like A Dog of Flanders or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), but is good solid family entertainment, with the kind of effective blend of comedy, action, and drama found in more successfull action comedies (The Goonies) and comedy dramas (The Courtship of Eddie's Father).
  
  Josh Hutcherson, who proved his diverse acting skills starring in films ranging from Little Manhattan to Bridge to Terabithia, plays 12-year-old Shane, who's father is the Captain of the firehouse housing Fire Engine 55. We learn through dialog that the Captain is a widower who succeded his own late brother to the job, leaving Shane with very little parental supervision. While ditching school Shane runs into Rexxx, a lost Hollywood movie dog. Shane is caught due to the dog jumping on him, and resents the dog for a while. Rexxx was lost wearing a prop collar so they think his name is Dewey, and can't find the owner; but while trying Shane learns how good Dewey is at tricks and gradually decides he wants to adopt him. So you have a typical dog movie situation, the dogs presence improving the boys character while you wonder if the boy will have to lose the dog if the Hollywood owner ever turns up.
  
  But wait there's more: meanwhile Shane learns his father is investigating a series of fires that might be arson -- including the one in which his uncle died. So the plot builds up to a more serious situation with suspense, firefighting action, and a dramatic conclusion. Fortunately this is developed gradually from the more humorous first half of the movie, so it works on both levels, and never gets too scary for kids, but never gets dull, with some firefighting action for Dads, animal stunts for everyone, humor that's never more crude than a couple dog flatulence jokes, and a moderately poignant story to hold it all together.
  
  
  
• Rex with a Triple X
  By A1GHUN5HXMHZ89 on 2007-11-14
  Being an adult, the first few minutes almost made me turn it off. It came across as another low brow kids movie. But shortly after that it became a family movie and I was glad I stuck it out. When Rexxx becomes Dewey we see a unusual dog become a great pet and firehouse mascot. That transition changes the lifes of all he touches. Fans of dogs should definitely catch it as it truly shows how dogs are one of man and woman's best friends. I have to say one as I think cats are too. This is a good family dog movie that starts out a little pretentious with Rexxx as a toupee wearing movie star, but then pretty much settles into a realistic story about a lost dog becoming a treasured pet and friend. I recommend it to anyone that enjoys dog movies or family movies. The DVD quality was good and includes several extras.
  
  
• AWESOME MOVIE!!
  By A3AEYDNYCWH2IZ on 2007-08-03
  I LOVED this movie!! If you have kids - watch it with them. If you don't have kids - watch it anyway. It's GREAT!!! I loved the dog!
  
  
• Awesome Movie
  By A1DFNR8D9EMF0F on 2007-07-03
  www.dogster.com held a photo/essay contest for their members last summer. We had to submit a photo and an essay on how our dog is our hero. Well, my Service Dog, Shadow, was one of the winners to have his picture in the end credits of the theater release and the DVD. I found the movie to be entertaining and did show how a family has to stick together no matter how tough things that come into the picture. Shadow's picture is toward the end credits of the picture... So, if you see a dog sitting w/ red flowers in the background you'll get to see my hero, Shadow.
  
  
• No Need for Doggie Defecation
  By A55JNM84110X on 2007-08-08
  Josh Hutcherson (who plays Shane Fahey, the lead in the film) is a budding star, but if you're looking for a movie that offers him the kind of stage as Bridge to Teribithia, look further. Yes, it's a children's film, but way does that excuse the director and screenwriter from having to put quality work in front of the audience. None of the relationhips between any of the characters receives near enough attention, the end result of which is that the main theme of the movie is unidentifiable. Not that the messages aren't there, waiting to be brought out; they are. The boy is dealing with issues of finding his own identity in early adolescence whilst his "father" (it is unclear whether the "father" is biological or adoptive) is mostly absent and struggling with the sudden death of his own brother in a firefighting accident. No mother, puppy love (no pun intended), all are sitting there in the movie like sea monkeys in plot just waiting for someone to add water and bring them to life. No such luck.
  
  Incidentally, there is truly no need to have a dog graphically deecate into a pot of food on screen. It didn't make my 4 year-old laugh. Do we really need to encouage a generation of young people to revel in low-brow cheap bathroom humor? The defecation scene is the most shocking example of pandering, but not the only one.
  
  The movie does have a lot of redeeming features. The acting is better than average, primarily due to the work of Bruce Greenwood as Connor Fahey (Shane's father) and Steven Culp who plays Zach Hayden, a city official who liasons with the firehouse that is the center of the story. These are two actors that should be geting roles in more serious films. In the final analysis, good work wasted on a "dog" of a project.
  
  
  
• Great film for everyone with a funny bone and a heart!
  By A39ZQTUCSJDV1M on 2007-08-08
  My kids loved it. They are boys age 6 and 11. The film has great animal stunts, rousing fire-fighting drama, and a pretty good script, too. Just rent or buy and enjoy!
  
  
• great and fun movie
  By A2LNFY95KFGQUL on 2007-08-11
  bought this film for my 90 year mother but I was very please that it told a story and a moral my mom love it my children and grandkids love it. it is easy to say age 1 to 90 will like this movie
  
  
• Not hot (but not bad, either)
  By A1ZZ2EB6FCY8MW on 2007-06-12
  Firehouse Dog is one of those movies that came and went pretty quickly in theaters, greeted by mixed reviews.
  
  On DVD, it's watchable granted you aren't expecting a whole lot. It's a trifle to be sure, but the dog is cute and while there is not much in the way of a "boy and his dog" story, the movie is cute and moves a long at a decent (if clunky) pace.
  
  Staci Layne Wilson
  
  
  
• Neat movie - if a bit unbelievable
  By A395BI70WRUFY on 2007-08-06
  There is a lot to really like about this movie besides the adorable canine star of the show.
  
  The movie itself is a good morality play, albeit a shallow one. It teaches youngsters the typical message about the importance of honesty and how adults and kids can learn from each other. There is a bit of action and suspense, at least enough to keep the kids' attention and adults too, to a certain extent.
  
  The main star is, of course, the cute and well trained Irish Terrier, Rexxx. In actuality, several dogs filled the role, but all did very well.
  
  The main problem I had with the movie were the needless, outlandish stunts performed by the dog (or rather, the CGI creators).. The opening stunt, a completely unbelievable jump from an jet plane into the back of a tomato truck was completely outlandish and really uneeded for the story set up. There were a couple of others, most notedly a poorly created CGI of the dog sliding down a fire pole that really could have set up differently.
  
  The poorly executed stunts turned what could have been a really engrossing family film into something parents will have a hard time getting past. I know it's only a movie, but with the rest of the show being so good, it's a shame those scenes bring it down a little. It's not quite 4 stars, but probably closer to 3 and 3/4 stars...
  
  
• Firehouse Dog
  By ABTANZHG1Q9T6 on 2007-08-26
  It's a very good movie. A movie the family can watch together. I enjoyed it just as much as my grandkids. A Dad, a Son, a dog with a little humor and a little drama. What more do you need.
  
  
• Fire;house Dog
  By A25PJKQCCSJ6DQ on 2007-09-01
  One of the best Family films I have seen. You don't see many fit to watch anymore, but this one is tops
  
  
• Firehouse Dog (The Irish Terrier "Dare Devil")
  By A1I1B6V82CMNS on 2007-09-01
  This is a great family movie about an irish terrier. Also, I own an irish terrier, and they are beautiful dogs, but need a lot of training initially, as they have a mind of their own. PLEASE do not buy one of these dogs because they are cute, unless you are willing to give it a LIFETIME committment.
  
  
• Firehouse Dog
  By AZAJG4SZ215A2 on 2007-09-23
  Great family movie. Adults enjoy as much as children. If you love animals, you'll love this story. Love seeing all the real firehouse dogs in the credits.
  
  
• GOOD FAMILY FRIENDLY COMEDY!
  By A1ER6IYOMM8VCT on 2008-08-10
  OK my friends here at Amazon, please don't come down on me too hard for liking this fairly fun, if predictable comedy. It's not going to win any awards and it doesn't break any new ground, but over all, I enjoyed this film. There are some corny jokes that fall flat, but most of it works. This is a fantasy film, so be prepared to just let all credibility go. It's cute, harmless and better than most of these types of pictures. Dog lovers should enjoy the credit role at the end.
  
  
• Pretty good, but very corney. But good work, Josh.
  By A2A8O0GE6CAQZL on 2007-08-05
  I have to admit that "Firehouse Dog" isn't that bad of a movie, but yet, it is very tacky and a bit unrealistic, but that shouldn't matter. First of all, I really like Josh Hutcherson a lot. He is one of the best young actors for his age. So taken in his previous reeky film, "Bridge to Terabithia," where I wanted my money back, "Firehouse Dog" isn't that bad, and a much better film.
  
  The movie tells the story of a young boy named Shane Fahey (Josh Hutcherson) who lives with his sweet, but tough-to-deal with father (Bruce Greenwood). Although, sometimes Shane and his dad does live with some of his firehouse members after losing his uncle, which they couldn't get over with.
  
  One day, Shane meets this dog named Dewey, whom he calls Rex. Dewey is a dog actor in many dog movies. He escapes and meets Shane and together, they become feline friends. But whatever comes, will Shane ever take good care of Rex forever?
  
  The DVD comes with a nice variety of bonus features featuring a Dog Montage that shows several ways of how they trained the dog in the movie. What was very interesting was how they stopped the dog from jumping over the fire. There's also some Deleted Scenes which show an original ending from the film.
  
  Other special features to include are a scene from storyboard to screen, which is one of the first steps in order to make a movie. But a huge great special feature is "Firehouse Dog: A True Hollywood Story," which is an 8-minute documentary of how they made the movie and what got into the idea of making "Firehouse Dog."
  
  There is a lot of corniness in this movie, but if I can give thanks to making it turn out to be such a good movie, it'll easily go to Josh Hutcherson. But hey, he's good in training dogs, after all, I know that he has a dog at home. Josh is the film's strength into making of the movie.
  
  Overall if you like a good family film for kids, you should enjoy "Firehouse Dog." I'm very happy that I saw the movie. Just leave it at that. "Firehouse Dog" is much better than "Because of Winn-Dixie," but it'll certainly won't lead to "Little Manhattan." It's a fun, paced family film for the kids. Parents should find this pretty corney, but all that matters is if the kids like it.
  
  
• Pretty good movie-I would not take real young children to it though....
  By A3B87UZLPCF0HW on 2007-09-11
  Director: Todd Holland.
  Starring: Josh Hutcherson, Bruce Greenwood, Steven Culp, Bill Nunn.
  Old-fashioned family film - which is a good and a bad thing. Good in that it's a wholesome, good-natured kids movie; bad in that the kids are used to something much more these days.
  When Rex becomes the firehouse mascot, it keeps the fire fighters' morale high as their station is threatened with closure. Okay, so it might rely on canine bodily function gags to get most of the laughs (Rex snores, farts, burps and poos in the stew), but Firehouse Dog is not entirely a comedy. There's a sizable subplot that deals with mysterious arson.
  
  
• Very Good
  By A1YCS3DT0MLXUM on 2007-09-17
  It was a very good movie! The DVD was in excellent shape! Will buy from Amazon again.
  
  
• Laugh out Loud!
  By A1MQROQZT0O1OR on 2007-09-29
  Kids of all ages, (parents too) will enjoy this movie. We watchd it as a family the first time and we were all laughing out loud. It continues to be played in our home and we enjoy it like the first time, every time!
  
  
• low-grade kids' flick
  By A19ZXK9HHVRV1X on 2007-10-18
  In the utterly unremarkable "Firehouse Dog," a pampered movie star pooch named Rexxx falls out of an airplane and into the lap of a second-rate fire station where he is immediately adopted as the department`s mascot. With his natural talent for search-and-rescue missions, Rexxx soon insinuates his way into the hearts and affections of all, including the young, slightly troubled son (Josh Hutcherson) of the station`s chief (Bruce Greenwood).
  
  Despite all its obvious good intentions, I can scarcely imagine anyone but the tiniest tots in the audience being either intrigued or inspired by this film. Apart from the slight difference that the Timmy-fallen-down-a-well predicament has been replaced by a Shane-trapped-in-a-burning-firehouse sequence, this is a thoroughly conventional "a boy and his dog" tale in which neither the boy nor the dog is really all that appealing. In fact, Rexxx is so un-cute and so un-cuddly that it's hard to believe that he could ever be a true canine superstar sensation in the real world.
  
  As for the script, it consists mainly of feeble jokes, broad slapstick and obvious sentimentality ladled out in roughly equal measure. There are a few touching father-and-son moments along the way, but this is otherwise a very long, very uninspired "kid flick." There's nothing overtly wrong with either the values or the morals conveyed by the movie - unless, that is, one considers subjecting innocent and unsuspecting children to bad filmmaking to be, in and of itself, immoral.
  
  
• You'll Laugh, You'll Cry and You'll Cheer
  By AIA1X0R7JEIA8 on 2008-01-13
  This is an extremely entertaining film!
  
  If you're feeling down, you should see this movie. It will lift your spirits as Dewey (a.k.a Rexx) goes from pampered Hollywood canine to a working firehouse dog, though he retains much of his Hollywood personality. Parts of the film are so funny that I couldn't help but burst-out laughing so hard my neighbors must have wondering what was going-on in my apartment. I felt so much better after seeing this film the first time that I wanted to see it again immediately. Yeah, some of the stunts are silly, but they never take away from the enjoyment of the movie. The scene where Dewey slid down the firepole made me cringe and I could feel the poor guy's pain.
  
  There are sad scenes in the film that can melt the stoniest heart, so be ready to cry. Not often, but when the tears come, you won't be able to hold them back. Tender scenes abound in this film, as Connor Fahey and his son Shane begin to repair their relationship, spurred-on by the new dog in their lives. The love between father and son, the close friendship of the firefighters at Engine 55 and everyone falling for Dewey makes the film glow with the love of the main characters for each other.
  
  The subplot reminded me a little of Backdraft which, along with the come-from-behind story of the Engine Company, makes the film suspenseful, inspiring and uplifting all at the same time. I'd advise parents not to have very little children watch the film, but kids of 3rd grade level should be alright watching it. If you collect movie posters, get the poster for Firehouse Dog, too. The poster seems to completely catch the essence of the film.
  
  An excellent film to add to your collection to enjoy for years to come!
  
  
• A Crunchy Parental Review of "Firehouse Dog"
  By A4IQXCCXDEAKW on 2008-01-19
  We had avoided Firehouse Dog in the theatres because of all the reviews we had read that talked about the sophomoric jokes about the dog eating a pot of chili and the ensuing flatulence.
  
  Clearly, whoever wrote those reviews had not actually watched the movie - at least not very closely - because in the first place it wasn't chili, and in the second place, yes, there are some gas-passing bits in Firehouse Dog, but they are fairly minor and fast, and are definitely not major enough to warrant avoiding this movie.
  
  [Note: On watching this a second time, I noticed that during the stew-eating scene, the dog actually turns around and poops in the pot. That's definitely uncool, but it would be easy to distract a child for that very brief "on the table eating the stew scene."]
  
  Firehouse Dog was definitely a surprise, because I had my finger on "pause" for the first several scenes, until I realized that this movie was not only nowhere near as bad as I'd thought, but actually was an ok movie, and it has a pretty sweet storyline.
  
  The premise is that the main character, Shane, a pre-adolescent boy, is headed down the trouble lane, cutting school, and being ignored by his fire chief single-father. Not only has his mother disappeared (and that's all that we hear about that, it is very subtle in that regard), but (and this sets the tone of the entire movie), the previous fire chief was his uncle (his father's brother), who lost his life in the line of duty. His father believes that it is arson and related to a series of fires that have happened since, and the audience sees devices made with watches and cigarette packs that clue the audience in to the fact that is father is right.
  
  Through mechanisms that I won't reveal, Shane ends up with a 'stray' dog, and learns responsibilty, while his father comes to realize that he has basically ignored his son and his son's needs since his brother passed away.
  
  In the end it's a sweet story line, although there are some intense moments (especially at the end, when Shane gets trapped in a fire set by the arsonist (whom he of course has identified, and in the end helps to apprehend)), but of course in the end everyone is safe, and they live happily ever after.
  
  I personally wouldn't recommend this, however for children below the age of 10, or 9 at the youngest.
  
  Anne
  http://www.CrunchyReviews.com
  
  
• movie with a bark
  By A3MCSRAS8CZ2DW on 2008-04-20
  This movie is cute with a bark.A must see.Fire house dog deffinitly comes across as a hero.
  
  
• Great movie.....have tissues ready.
  By A2L05T7JPXDYSS on 2008-04-23
  This movie will cause a few tears if you're even half normal. Puts a smile on your face throughout.
  
  
• FUN & lighhearted for all ages
  By A10HYB5K5XN3QO on 2008-05-08
  I purchased Firehouse Dog through Amazon because it is our favorite movie. Rexxx who is Dewy is the most enteratining fun-loving dog that everyone wishes they had for a pet. If you are a dog lover or any animal lover this is the movie for you. It's for all ages and we are always asked to "play firehouse dog." You will embrace this movie full of action, fun, heart warming scenes between a dog and boy and a true hero.
  
  Thank you Amazon, we couldn't find this movie anywhere except for on your web page.
  
  
• Wonderful Family Movie!
  By A2MP1G9UY37VBE on 2008-06-02
  I love this movie! Lot's of fun! I think Josh Hutcherson did another job well done. Don't miss out on this one. The kids will love it!
  
  
• Excellent
  By A1KS57Q813KTMA on 2008-06-03
  Product was received within one week after placing order. It was in great shape as the seller stated. I would recommend others in buying from this seller.
  
  

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