The Karate Dog
The Karate Dog
PG | 05 May 2004 (USA)
The Karate Dog Trailers

When LAPD computer expert Peter Fowler investigates the killing of an old man in Chinatown, he finds the only witness is his dog, Cho Cho. But Fowler soon discovers Cho Cho is the only dog in the world who can speak to humans... not only that, Cho Cho is an expert in martial arts. When they join forces to track down the mastermind behind the death of Cho Cho's master, it leads these unusual partners into uncovering a dangerous conspiracy which puts both of their lives in danger.

Reviews
lothos-370-690020

Oh John Voight, what have you done? How the mighty have fallen, one minute your appearing in Midnight Cowboy the next (30 years later) your in Karate Dog. I don't know if it needs to be said, given some "people" gave this 10/10, but this film is abysmal. I can only assume some form of payment was included, possibly a crew member or two. Anyway, conspiracy theories aside, I don't have the words to adequately describe how terrible this film is. The excuse, it's for kids, carries only so far. Perhaps we wouldn't have so many demented adults in the world, if they weren't exposed to this form of abuse as a child. The CGI was bad, despite being released 12 years after Jurassic Park, it looks MTV skit bad. The awful script, the hammy acting, the cheesy accents, it all combines to make the audience feel like their being pranked. Speaking of which, if your the sort of person who enjoys watching idiots on youtube hurt themselves or "pranking" one another then this probably is for you. I personally think this low brow form of humour should be banned and anyone who enjoys it, sterilised for the good of the species, but apparently that's a controversial opinion, so I leave with simply, don't, just don't. Don't buy it, don't watch it and don't, for the love of God don't make another one.

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vchimpanzee

Chin Li works for Hamilton Cage, who runs a track where greyhounds are raced. Cage also has big plans, as an illegal drug shows great promise for improving the quality of life of people. But apparently Chin Li stood in the way of this, as a masked assassin kills him in front of his dog Cho Cho.Of the cops investigating the case, only Peter Fowler, a computer geek who has developed COLAR (sort of like Siri), appears likely to be headed in the right direction. Chin Li has advised Cho Cho to talk only to those who seek truth, so Cho Cho opens up to Fowler.Fowler thinks it's some kind of trick, but he eventually believes Cho Cho is really talking. But he can't convince anyone else: the same thing happens to him that happened to that construction worker who found Michigan J. Frog.No matter: Fowler can pursue the case on his own. And he has help from the pretty Ashley, a cop who wants to be a detective like her father, her grandfather, her great-grandfather ...Meanwhile, Fowler is interested in Ashley romantically. This leads to a hilarious Cyrano de Bergerac scene in a restaurant.Southern Beauty, one of the greyhounds, is really good. Too good. The truth eventually comes out, but this means potential danger for our heroes.The Cage children seem more ambitious than their father. Could they be the killers? Or does the father know everything? Or is someone else involved? The actors doing the voices for the dogs--especially Chevy Chase--seem to be the most talented here. Also Nicollette Sheridan as a white cat who provides valuable help getting things done. And Lori Petty is quite good as Fowler's version of Siri.The dogs, and the cat, are also talented musicians. Or appear to be.The animals can't be that talented, but CGI helps. It's realistic only in the sense that if dogs could move like this, they would look this way.The movie's title is misleading in that karate is rarely used, but it is used. Cho Cho and Cage also breakdance. You KNOW that's not Jon Voight doing most of it.And what about Jon Voight? Isn't he a respected actor? What is he doing here? He's not that good, although you could blame the drugs. Still, it is possible for an actor to show talent as someone going senile, even comically. I'm just not sure that's what's happening here.Jaime Pressly hadn't won any of her Emmys yet, but she does show promise here. Ashley is sweet and intelligent, and of course beautiful.It's a kid's fantasy, though a little on the violent side for young kids. But I can't see this appealing to that many adults.Still, it made me relatively happy.

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DiamondGirl427

Not even worth watching for free...that is about the best way to put it after watching this mess on TV for free. I know Simon Rex is NOT an actor...so why was he cast as a lead in anything? We are suppose to believe he is a detective? But the plot gets even BETTER!! He becomes the owner of a dog who was a witness to a murder...and that dog can TALK!!! OMG...it gets even crazier! The dog lets tt he cop in on the fact that ALL animals can talk..in their own language, of course..but us humans just can't hear it. The detective decides to help this dog solve his masters' murder..and goes bumbling around doing various stupid things in an attempt add some humor to the mix. He meets a patrol cop who has plans to be detective some day too..and of course she jumps right in to help him out. Jamie Priestly is the eye candy for this film...and that is about all she is good for here I am not sure if she is really a talented actress at all. Seeing an accomplished actor like Jon Voight lower his standards to do this was almost a sad thing. He was suppose to be some amazing karate master? His moves were stiff and anything but realistic. Even his attempts at being tough was lame. Taking a concept that has been done before...a talking dog in a movie..was fine..but doing it on what must have been a low budget was not a good plan. Even the actors playing the children of Jon Voights' character were bad choices..they looked too old to be believable. Someone who was as skilled in martial arts as he was would have also taught his children the skills too at some point...in reality anyway. Not much was realistic or believable here...and I think even kids would become bored after a while. Seeing dogs dancing, playing music and spinning records was just way too much. I felt sorry for the real dogs in this and I hope they were paid well in top quality kibble...but I doubt the director had that kind of money to spare...obviously he had to know it would not make him any cash as a completed film either. Low budget stuff can be fun....but this one was more of a mess than anything.

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Lucien Lessard

SFPD Computer Expert Peter Flower (Simon Rex) investigates the murder of an man (The late Pat Morita), what seems to be a murder/robbery case. But Peter discover that the man, who recently murder has an dog named Cho Cho (Voiced by Chevy Chase). Which Cho Cho could actually talk to Humans and he's the only witness to the crime. Cho Cho feels that his master was up to something and Peter tries to help Cho Cho to solve it. So Cho Cho could avenged his master's murderer. But Cho Cho and Peter finds themselves an strange case that involves Dogs on the race track and an millionaire (Jon Voight), who thinks who found the fountain of young by using Drugs and Dog DNA! Directed by the late Bob Clark (Black Christmas, A Christmas Story, Porky's) made an silly comedy that aimed at Kids. Although the low-budget of the film is hurt by most of the CGI effects on the film. An bigger budgeted was certainly needed in this film as well. But it's Chase as the voice of "Cho Cho" makes it bearable. Chase certainly gives most of the laughs in this one. Rex is likable enough in the movie and he has an hilarious sequence with Jaime Pressly in the restaurant scene. Only Voight seems to be embarrassed with his film and he gets goofier by the minute with his bizarre performance. Which Voight must paid well to be in this movie and he got to work with Clark again on the "Baby Geniuses 2"!The Canadian DVD has an fine Pan & Scan (1.33:1) transfer and an decent Dolby 2.0 Surround Sound. The movie works best during the first half and This is certainly not the best work of Clark's or his worst. But it's decent enough and it is certainly better than "Baby Geniuses". Voight reunited with his co-star Ron Lester from "Varsity Blues" Voight even executive produced this oddball movie. (** ½/*****).

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