Air Bud 1997 Source Bing.com
Air Bud is a 1997 American comedy-drama film that was directed by Charles Martin Smith. The film stars Michael Jeter, Kevin Zegers, and Wendy Makkena. It tells the story of a young boy who discovers a runaway golden retriever with an amazing ability to play basketball. The film was released on July 2, 1997 and grossed $4 million at the box office.
Plot Summary
The movie begins with Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers) moving with his mother Jackie (Wendy Makkena) and two sisters Andrea (Kathryn Kirkpatrick) and Molly (Lori Hallier) to a small town in Washington. There, Josh meets a runaway golden retriever named Buddy and they become fast friends. Buddy follows Josh everywhere he goes, including to school where he soon discovers the dog’s amazing ability to play basketball. Josh and Buddy soon become the talk of the town and attract the attention of a local promoter, Larry Willingham (Michael Jeter). Willingham sees a potential star in the dog and tries to use him to make money. Josh is initially reluctant to use Buddy for money, but soon realizes that it is the only way to keep him safe from the dogcatcher.
Cast
The film stars Kevin Zegers, Michael Jeter, Wendy Makkena, Kathryn Kirkpatrick, and Lori Hallier. The cast of the film also includes Robert Costanzo, Eric Christmas, and Bill Cobbs.
Reception
Air Bud was met with mostly positive reviews. The film currently holds a rating of 6.7/10 on IMDb and a score of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 25 reviews. Critics praised the film’s light-hearted approach to the subject matter, as well as the performances of the cast. The film was a success at the box office, grossing $4 million.
Legacy
The success of Air Bud spawned a franchise of sequels and spin-offs, including Air Bud: World Pup (2000), Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch (2002), Air Bud: Spikes Back (2003), Air Buddies (2006), Snow Buddies (2008), Santa Buddies (2009), Treasure Buddies (2012), and Super Buddies (2013). The franchise has also spawned several direct-to-video releases, as well as a television series. Air Bud is widely considered to be one of the most successful animal-related films of all time.
Trivia
The basketball scenes in the film were shot using a robotic camera that was programmed to follow the ball. This allowed the filmmakers to capture the action in a way that would have been impossible with a conventional camera. The film also features several real-life NBA players, including Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley.
Conclusion
Air Bud is a classic family film that is sure to entertain viewers of all ages. With its endearing story and amazing basketball-playing dog, the film has become a classic and will remain a favorite for years to come. If you’re looking for a light-hearted comedy that the whole family can enjoy, Air Bud is sure to fit the bill.
Air Bud 1997
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZE7RevwKH4M
