Many of us in the audience at the Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church, which is where we watched SNOW BUDDIES last Friday, have fond memories of watching ongoing film series with recurring characters, like Tarzan and Jane, Blondie and Dagwood, Andy Hardy and his family, to name just a few of the longer-running ones. But most moviegoers are unaware of which characters or group of characters has been filmed most often. Not counting silent, animated and short films, made-for-TV movies, and foreign-language films, TARZAN, not surprisingly, is #4 on the list, just a few films less than were made featuring Sherlock Holmes. Topping Holmes is another detective, a Chinese cop from Honolulu, Charlie Chan, who was in 45 pictures in all. By the way, none of the actors who played him was Oriental. At the top of the heap is that gang of ruffians from the Big Apple, the Bowery Boys, who were in a total of 48 flicks. Not all the actors or the characters they portrayed were in all 48, but the three or four main actors and their characters stuck together for a good share of them. And before that, the gang made 38 more movies as the East Side Kids and Dead End Kids-all told, more than Chan and Holmes combined. What, you ask, does this have to do with SNOW BUDDIES? Well, this AIR BUD sequel is Disney's longest running film series of all time, even surpassing the LOVE BUG bunch. The sixth film, prior to this, AIR BUDDIES, featured Bud's puppies as the main stars, as does this one, and presumably the next one, still in production, called SPACE BUDDIES. While SB has some fine voice talent in supporting roles, notably Whoopi Goldberg and Kris Kristofferson, the story stretches credibility with the young puppies pulling a dog sled in a grueling Alaskan race against adult dogs. But, hey, it's only a movie, so I'll cut Disney some slack over that. But I do give the studio some grief over the way they treated their canine actors. As an animal lover who loves to watch them in movies (SEABISCUIT is among my personal all-time Top Ten favorite films), I was appalled that the producers cut so many corners and disregarded so many guidelines and regulations by organizations like the American Humane Association, which is responsible for the end-credits line in movies with animals that states "No animals were harmed in the making of this motion picture." If you want to know more of the grisly details leading to the death of five puppies during the shoot, check out the blogs which accompany the User Comments and other info about this film. Sad as this case was, it is to be hoped that Disney and other film makers learned some lessons from these mistakes. I would not have watched this picture if I felt Disney had no remorse over its actions. I believe their next AIR BUD picture should carry a dedication which reads something like, "This film is dedicated to all past and present animal actors in the AIR BUD series who have performed so well and given so much of themselves in the production of these films." As moviegoers, we should insist the studio that is home to Mickey, Donald and Goofy does no less. Dale Roloff
14 Reviews
the little 6 buds journey in spirit hope and glory
lark4011 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
In this spin-off of the Air Bud franchise, five pups follow an ice cream transport truck to a plane and end up flying with the ice cream shipment to Alaska. There they find a pup friend and a boy who needs five dogs for a big race. this film is lovely Xmas movie as a holiday classic with Kris kristoferson husky voice of a husky who guides animals this is a heart warming story for the family to love as we see 6 puppies called budderball, a rapping b dawg, a courageous rosebud, a mellow Buddha, a dirty dog called mud bud and a friend when they arrive in Alaska called Shasta as they find a trip to Alaska buy cold van they look for fun adventure excitement with power full dream and sense of travel and teamwork with a young boy looking for dogs to race faith just happens to intervene to give this boy hope in this film which I gave it 7/10 at 1hr24mins its one for you Xmas collection
Let's finish the sequence, three to go...
RosanaBotafogo11 March 2023
Disney's most adorable pups are back, and this time they're going to venture into the frozen Arctic and meet new friends on a thrilling sled race across Alaska. Join your favorite friends: gluttonous Budderback, stylish Rosebud, laid-back Buddha, rapper B. Dawg and rowdy MudBud for some fun, action and mayhem in this gripping story about the power of teamwork and the importance of teamwork. Follow your dreams. When things get tough, our heroes must team up with their new friends Talon and Shasta, and muster up the courage to face the challenges along the way. But will they be able to win the race and find their way home?
The franchise is the usual cute, cute and saturated, the little babies of Golden River are cute, cute, but it's for those who have patience, right, or for little kids who think everything is cute... It wasn't very much in the vibe, no, carnival, working , let the little film roll just to have a little nap, nauseous, to complete my day well... Let's finish the sequence, three to go...
The franchise is the usual cute, cute and saturated, the little babies of Golden River are cute, cute, but it's for those who have patience, right, or for little kids who think everything is cute... It wasn't very much in the vibe, no, carnival, working , let the little film roll just to have a little nap, nauseous, to complete my day well... Let's finish the sequence, three to go...
Dogs looks distressed!
jaccer1126 November 2020
Pretty bad even for a kids movie
americanu-3244725 December 2020
Wow! This was low
lfedvard13 December 2021
Puppies died during filming? too bad they found more for sequels!
pkzeewiz19 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I personally don't know if the puppies died or not, it's just what people are saying on the forums.
This time around The puppies and their love for adventure ends them up in the back of an ice cream truck. The ice cream truck's shipment is put into a plane and dropped in Alaska. The puppies meet a husky pup named Shasta and they find that the dog's owner, young Adam has prayed hard for 5 more puppies so he can start a dog sled team. Must I go on, yes they race, they win, their owners in Washington come up there and find them and it's all happy endings...Bonus though, NO ONE is trying to kidnap them this time.
This was just another film, exploitation Disney style - this is part 7 of the series and it is fine for kids I suppose, but I think adults are getting rather tired of them coming out. If your kid has air buddies he can stop there because they get worse as it goes along. C.G.I. effects and talking puppies get old very quickly.
This movie is set around Christmas as many of the other Air Bud films are. There is a dog mentioned on here named Nanook, and thats an obvious reference to Corey Haim's Husky in The Lost Boys movie from 1987. One stupid thing is that two Huskys had died in a previous race on this film, Shastas parents, yet race 2 is in the same location and the bad guy gets his dogs stuck there. Why would anyone race in a place that is an obvious danger zone...these Air Bud movies are full of little flaws like that.
Robert Vince is back again as director and he is nothing special, his whole career has been exploiting various animals for his films. His C.G.I. effects are hard to set through at times. Acting wise, most of the cast was back, Richard Karn as well as all of the kids except the main kid, Noah. The adult dogs, Buddy and Molly were back being voiced again by Tom Everett Scott and Molly Shannon. Whoopie Goldberg voices a cat, James Belushi voices a dog and Kris Kristopherson voices Talon, a huge Husky and that dog even resembles Kris.
Jus another crazy talking animal movie that will shut your kids up for 80 minutes. 2/10 stars
This time around The puppies and their love for adventure ends them up in the back of an ice cream truck. The ice cream truck's shipment is put into a plane and dropped in Alaska. The puppies meet a husky pup named Shasta and they find that the dog's owner, young Adam has prayed hard for 5 more puppies so he can start a dog sled team. Must I go on, yes they race, they win, their owners in Washington come up there and find them and it's all happy endings...Bonus though, NO ONE is trying to kidnap them this time.
This was just another film, exploitation Disney style - this is part 7 of the series and it is fine for kids I suppose, but I think adults are getting rather tired of them coming out. If your kid has air buddies he can stop there because they get worse as it goes along. C.G.I. effects and talking puppies get old very quickly.
This movie is set around Christmas as many of the other Air Bud films are. There is a dog mentioned on here named Nanook, and thats an obvious reference to Corey Haim's Husky in The Lost Boys movie from 1987. One stupid thing is that two Huskys had died in a previous race on this film, Shastas parents, yet race 2 is in the same location and the bad guy gets his dogs stuck there. Why would anyone race in a place that is an obvious danger zone...these Air Bud movies are full of little flaws like that.
Robert Vince is back again as director and he is nothing special, his whole career has been exploiting various animals for his films. His C.G.I. effects are hard to set through at times. Acting wise, most of the cast was back, Richard Karn as well as all of the kids except the main kid, Noah. The adult dogs, Buddy and Molly were back being voiced again by Tom Everett Scott and Molly Shannon. Whoopie Goldberg voices a cat, James Belushi voices a dog and Kris Kristopherson voices Talon, a huge Husky and that dog even resembles Kris.
Jus another crazy talking animal movie that will shut your kids up for 80 minutes. 2/10 stars
Cute, funny and inspiring
vchimpanzee28 January 2014
Everyone's favorite golden retriever puppies are back again.
This is no masterpiece, and you shouldn't look for great acting, though Kris Kristofferson impressed, on the same day he and other country music legends performed at The Grammys. Charles Stevenson as the bumbling sheriff is also quite good.
John Kapelos as the villain is the only human here who is genuinely a cartoon.
The dogs are very intelligent. But it's more than a little obvious several dogs play each part. And some of the dogs don't look quite real. But a lot is demanded of them.
There are a couple of "only in Hollywood" moments where a kid proves he can accomplish a lot.
Other than that, you pretty much know what to expect. But I can't say anything negative. If you're a kid, it's great. And there's nothing offensive, except for some potty humor that apparently qualifies as G-rated these days, and some minor but necessary violence in a race with an evil villain.
If you already enjoyed the Buddies series (and I did, even though I don't like dogs), you'll surely like it. If not, and especially if you don't care for kids' movies, well ...
This is no masterpiece, and you shouldn't look for great acting, though Kris Kristofferson impressed, on the same day he and other country music legends performed at The Grammys. Charles Stevenson as the bumbling sheriff is also quite good.
John Kapelos as the villain is the only human here who is genuinely a cartoon.
The dogs are very intelligent. But it's more than a little obvious several dogs play each part. And some of the dogs don't look quite real. But a lot is demanded of them.
There are a couple of "only in Hollywood" moments where a kid proves he can accomplish a lot.
Other than that, you pretty much know what to expect. But I can't say anything negative. If you're a kid, it's great. And there's nothing offensive, except for some potty humor that apparently qualifies as G-rated these days, and some minor but necessary violence in a race with an evil villain.
If you already enjoyed the Buddies series (and I did, even though I don't like dogs), you'll surely like it. If not, and especially if you don't care for kids' movies, well ...
James Stephen King is running for Congress
freakfire-126 April 2008
I am stumped as to why the now talking puppies are exported to Alaska. And in this alternate reality, the Iditarod has been replaced by a dog sled race that takes all of two days to complete. And yet, it supposed to be the greatest and most dangerous dog sled race in all of Alaska. Yeah sure.
Somehow, according to this cutsie movie, the parent dogs follow them to Alaska. And they find them after the dog race it over. But the dumb thing is, the kid and the puppies won the race? How corny is that? Full grown dog sled teams and adults are bested by a ordinary kid and some puppies.
This really wasn't worth Richard Karn's weight in gold. So, look someplace else for a good movie. "F"
Somehow, according to this cutsie movie, the parent dogs follow them to Alaska. And they find them after the dog race it over. But the dumb thing is, the kid and the puppies won the race? How corny is that? Full grown dog sled teams and adults are bested by a ordinary kid and some puppies.
This really wasn't worth Richard Karn's weight in gold. So, look someplace else for a good movie. "F"
Funny, happy and fluffy
botev192130 January 2008
This is a movie which can easily be categorized as being exclusively for children and I am sure few grown ups will appreciate it. We all know how difficult it is to create a movie with children and animals but this is definitely a successful attempt. It is created for younger audience and it serves its purpose. It is not in any ways similar to "Snow dogs", so don't be misled by the name. There is some sort of a story line, which like in other Disney movies of that sort is simple enough. Children will fall in love with it and if you need a good doze of positive emotions from lovely pups you might check it out on a Sunday morning with your 6 year old.
Just Another Entry In a Dying Franchise
t-dog810 April 2010
In film history, there have been several franchises in which the first film was great or decent, and the next five, six, or seven installments made no sense and were absolutely dreadful. Walt Disney's Snow Buddies falls into this category. Another spin-off of the Air Bud films, this is one film your dog-loving daughter may enjoy, but will give you torture.
The story involves Air Bud's five pups as they sneak into an ice cream delivery truck and are shipped to Alaska. The pups meet an Alaskan pup, which leads to a sub-plot, then back to the story, then the sub-plot, until that sub-plot is intertwined into the main story. By then you'll have no interest whatsoever about what happens to these pups and will constantly be checking the time, waiting for an end.
Looking at the cast, I was surprised to see talents Whoopi Goldberg and James Belushi were wasted in such a time-killer. Snow Buddies lacks the humor and charm that make family films enjoyable, or at least bearable to watch. All Snow Buddies does is pile on the clichés, cheap jokes, and laughably bad performances to make you wish you had 90 minutes of your life back.
The story involves Air Bud's five pups as they sneak into an ice cream delivery truck and are shipped to Alaska. The pups meet an Alaskan pup, which leads to a sub-plot, then back to the story, then the sub-plot, until that sub-plot is intertwined into the main story. By then you'll have no interest whatsoever about what happens to these pups and will constantly be checking the time, waiting for an end.
Looking at the cast, I was surprised to see talents Whoopi Goldberg and James Belushi were wasted in such a time-killer. Snow Buddies lacks the humor and charm that make family films enjoyable, or at least bearable to watch. All Snow Buddies does is pile on the clichés, cheap jokes, and laughably bad performances to make you wish you had 90 minutes of your life back.
Kiddie fare all the way.
michaelRokeefe30 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
The Disney Air Bud series is running very thin. Not to be confused with the Cuba Gooding Jr. vehicle SNOW DOGS; those five lovable Golden Retriever pups are back. Buddha, MudBud, Budderball, RoseBud and B-Dawg explore an ice cream truck and the next thing you know they are loaded on a plane and dropped in Alaska. They meet new friends Shasta and Talon and end up in an Arctic adventure. The pups team up with Shasta and enter an exciting dog-sled race across Alaska. You have to admit those cute fluffy Buddies are more fun than a barrel of monkeys. Alls well that ends well; and every kid in the family will be happy. A diverse group of actors lend their voices to this fell good movie directed by Robert Vince: Tom Everett Scott, Molly Shannon, Jim Belushi, Kris Kristofferson,Dylan Sprouse and Whoopi Goldberg.
The greatest kids movie of all time
vancebcunningham29 August 2021
My brother and sister watched this on repeat for years as kids. Great visuals and themes about family, honor, and friendship. Also fantastic action. Cute dogs talking and also racing against wolves in a dog sled race. Each dog has a unique personality that kids can relate to and even name their stuffed animals after. My parents probably got really tired of watching it and gave us Santa Buddies instead. Pretty good, but not as good as this God-given holy piece of entertainment. 10/10.
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