Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch Reviews

Despite its proliferation of pups, this family-film franchise entry is noi significant improvement on the first film. Buddy — the original sporty "Air Bud" — has sired a litter of puppies that have been adopted by loving owners. Like their papa, football-tossing Zack, hoop-shooting Shooter, Frisbee-throwing Duke and soccer-playing Striker all excel at sports. When Buddy's master, Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers), leaves for college, he entrusts his golden retriever to his teenaged sister, Andrea (Caitlin Wachs). A klutz on the school athletic field, Andrea only makes baseball cutoffs through the intervention of her pal Tammy (Chantal Strand). While Andrea drops fly balls and sours her team's morale, Buddy's offspring face imminent danger: A mad scientist and his lackey need Buddy's progeny for their experiments in isolating a sports gene. The genetic manipulators hope to create a synthetic version of the dogs' astonishing prowess for humans. The dastardly duo snatch up the doggies, and concerned pet-lovers persuade the police to scour the neighborhood; unfortunately, they can't find the missing pups. Buddy's canine coaching helps Andrea sharpen her softball skills, but the importance of winning the big game pales in comparison to saving the canines from scientific testing. Andrea and Tammy spot the gene splicers when they try (unsuccessfully) to kidnap Buddy, and follow them to their lab. There, they find an ally in the mad scientist's pet raccoon — but will the girls be able to free the purloined pups without forfeiting their play-off game? This mutt of a movie borrows elements from 101 DALMATIONS and HOME ALONE, and while it's serviceable entertainment for the younger pet set, it will never be mistaken for best of breed.