Pampered Hollywood canine star Rexxx (played by four dogs) is presumed dead after a stunt gone wrong that had him dropping from thousand miles up in the air. But unknown to his owner Trey (Dash Mihok), Rexxx has been adopted (albeit reluctantly) and christened as Dewey by Shane Fahey (Josh Hutcherson), the 12-year old son of Connor Fahey (Bruce Greenwood) - captain of Fire Station 55, which is due for closure in a week.
However, after a display of heroism during a fire rescue on top of oodles of improbable dog tricks, Dewey develops a relationship with Shane, eventually becoming the mascot of the fire station. But no sooner than things are becoming well than Trey arrives, looking to claim what is rightfully his.
Well, you know the rest.
Predictably scripted by Claire-Dee Lim, Mike Werb and Michael Colleary, the film suffers from a scattershot narrative that tries to cram as much subplots into a film that exceeds well over the usual running time for films of this nature. The dog (or dogs, for that matter) is cute but ultimately feels inorganic due to the fact that Todd Holland's uneven direction seems content in letting the special effects take over, and that the whole movie's too busy trying to wrap up every loose end that the relationship between the two leads (i.e. the dog and the boy) is tackled superficially, if any at all.
Children may find the antics cute and will probably never mind the intense scenes. Anyone other than the target demographic will find little else than a simplistic kid's movie that fares no better than a straight-to-video release.
However, after a display of heroism during a fire rescue on top of oodles of improbable dog tricks, Dewey develops a relationship with Shane, eventually becoming the mascot of the fire station. But no sooner than things are becoming well than Trey arrives, looking to claim what is rightfully his.
Well, you know the rest.
Predictably scripted by Claire-Dee Lim, Mike Werb and Michael Colleary, the film suffers from a scattershot narrative that tries to cram as much subplots into a film that exceeds well over the usual running time for films of this nature. The dog (or dogs, for that matter) is cute but ultimately feels inorganic due to the fact that Todd Holland's uneven direction seems content in letting the special effects take over, and that the whole movie's too busy trying to wrap up every loose end that the relationship between the two leads (i.e. the dog and the boy) is tackled superficially, if any at all.
Children may find the antics cute and will probably never mind the intense scenes. Anyone other than the target demographic will find little else than a simplistic kid's movie that fares no better than a straight-to-video release.