Buddy (1997): Dir: Caroline Thompson / Cast: Rene Russo, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Cumming, Paul Reubens, Dane Cook: Poster ads feature Rene Russo sitting with her chin cupped in her hands surrounded by all sorts of animals including a gorilla named Buddy. To a parent it might seem harmless but it is about as suitable for children as Cujo. Supposedly based on a true story of a woman who could communicates with animals and the gorilla she accepts that will grow too big and out of control. At one point Buddy breaks loose and causes a panic. Then viewers are subject to an attack on this woman as well as the destruction of her home. An adult film packaged as kids entertainment that will hardly appeal to either. Also featured are two chimpanzees that toss a meat clever back and forth. Production is fine but directing by Caroline Thompson is lousy. Part of the problem here is tone. This is not Rene Russo's finest moment for she overacts to the max. It is unfortunate considering this was a grand opportunity to play a lead. In flat supporting roles are Robbie Coltrane as the doctor, and Alan Cumming as an animal keeper. Paul Reubens also makes an appearance although his playhouse is far more fun than this. Dane Cook makes an early appearance as a cop. The film has good intentions with its theme of animal rights but to o be part of this dread should be considered animal cruelty. Score: 3 / 10

I got the DVD of this movie in a cereal box years ago when I was a little kid. I have loved this movie ever since and have watched it time and time again. This movie was amazing especially for animal lovers. I believe it's very under appreciated. It was sweet and brought tears to my eyes. But you probably do have to be an animal lover to fully like this movie. I wish this movie would go into theaters although it has already been out on DVD for awhile. I wish more attention was brought to this movie because I think it could've done decently well. I wish to show this to my children one day. It's a good movie for kids although maybe a few of the scenes could be a tad frightening. Buddy is a lovable character and this is a great movie.

My Aunt Gertrude did own a gorilla named Buddy, but she also owned another named Massa, and they combined the lives of the 2 together. First let me give you the true ending, Buddy was sold to the Ringling Bros circus, his name was changed to Gargantua, Massa was sold to the Philedelphia Zoo, and lived to be the oldest living Gorilla in captivity.The story was hollywoodized to the extreme. If they had stuck to the facts, maybe it would have been better.Gertrude also raised prize winning Saint Bernards, having over 100 on her estate in Brooklyn. She won the Westminster Dog show blue ribbon 5 times in a row. She helped to develop the "modern" pet foods. Since before then people just fed their pets scraps.Also just one more minor note, my family is Jewish, yet in the movie, she wore a cross, and as far as I know, no-body in my family was paid or had given permission for the movie to come out.

If you like animal antics, you'll like the chimps. A simple, charming coming-of-age plot. Some may feel the animals are exploited -- dressing and treating them as humans.