Saturday, August 10, 2013

DVD Review - Benji: 4 Movie Collection

Benji: 4 Movie Collection
Director: Joe Camp
Starring: Patsy Garrett, Allen Fiuzat, Cynthia Smith, Peter Breck, Edgar Buchanan, Tom Lester
Studio: Mill Creek Entertainment
Release Date: July 16, 2013
ASIN: B00CMDPTUY
Retail: $9.98
Buy Link: Amazon.com
Running Time: 4 hours 58 minutes
Rating: G

Review:

Before the chihuahuas went to Beverly Hills and before spot could run, there was a little mixed-breed dog named Benji, which has been played by four different dogs, Higgins, his daughter Benjean, and two other unnamed fluffy dogs. Mill Creek Entertainment recently released the two-disc Benji: 4 Movie Collection featuring the 1974 original Benji, the 1977 sequel For The Love of Benji, the 1978 special Benji's Very Own Christmas Story, and the 2004 sequel Benji Off the Leash!

In the original classic, Benji spends his day walking around a Texas town visiting his different human friends; all of them call him by a different name. His favorite house to visit belongs to Dr. Chapman, who happens to have two children, Paul and Cindy. The kids are the ones who named him Benji. They would love to keep him, but they are afraid their father wouldn't allow it. Benji befriends a female a dog, who is staying in an abandoned house, but a group of kidnappers arrive and Benji is the only one that can stop them.

A female dog, Benjean plays the title role in For The Love of Benji, which finds the loveable dog traveling with the Paul and Cindy Chapman and their nanny on a family vacation Greece. While in a pet carrier on the plane, a mysterious stranger leaves a tattoo on Benji's paw. Situations occur and Benji becomes lost in Athens, Greece as he tries to escape from a killer dog and outdo the spies.

Benji's Very Own Christmas Story aired on ABC in 1978 and was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Children's Program. Actresses Cindy Smith and Patsy Garret, along with Benji, are on a promotional tour in Switzerland, but they get sidetracked when they meet Kris Kringle (played by Ron Moody).

Benji disappeared for seventeen years until his return to be the big screen (limited run) in Benji Off the Leash!, where the producers are on a nationwide search for the next dog to be Benji. It tells an emotional story of a young mixed-breed dog that was unwanted when he was born by his mother's owner, Terrance Muncy Hatchett, who is dog breeder and treats his dogs horribly. A young boy, Colby, and his mother live with Hatchett, which he verbally abuses both of them. Colby sneaks the dog out of the house, where the dog stays at the boy's fort in the wood. Eventually, the dog grows up and can escape from the fort. He befriends a long tongue dog, who helps him on the quest to save his mother from the terrible dog breeder.

The original Benji was made seven years before I was born, but I have fond memories of watching the movies on broadcast television on Sunday afternoons. I don't ever recall seeing Benji's Very Own Christmas Story, which is only 26 minutes in length. Though Benji doesn't have anything much to do in the special, I still thought it was cute. Both Benji and For the Love of Benji are just as good as I remember, but the 70's music is a little stale. I don't know why I have never heard of Benji Off the Leash! that was released nine years ago. I was never aware there was a new movie. It’s actually well-made for a low-budget film and has some decent acting. It does have a few heartbreaking scenes, but it has a happy ending. Overall, I loved watching the 2-disc set, but I do wish OH! Heavenly Dog and Benji the Hunted was on it, so it could make the Benji film collection complete.



Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own!

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