Susan Granger’s review of “Firehouse Dog” (20th Century-Fox)
What would happen if a pampered, top-grossing movie mutt called Rexxx wound up as a fire station mascot? That’s the premise for this family-friendly comedy.
While Rexxx (star of “The Fast and the Furriest” and “Jurassic Bark”) is shooting a commercial, an aerial stunt goes awry and he’s presumed dead. Instead, he’s is lost in a strange city and befriended by a lonely 12 year-old Shane Fahey (Josh Hutcherson from “Bridge to Terabithia”), whose widower, workaholic fireman dad (Bruce Greenwood) rescues the actor-dog after the animal’s death-defying leap from a burning building. Soon the entire company is in awe of Rexxx’s spectacular skills which they put to use during rescue calls.
But somewhere in the second half of this cute canine caper, one of several subplots barks up the wrong tree as Shane tries to solve the mystery of how his beloved uncle died in a fire that might have been caused by arson. This involves an intense scene with a boy trapped in a burning room – a nightmarish concept for kids in the audience.
There have been many celebrity dogs – from Rin Tin Tin to Lassie to Benji. This hero is actually played by an interchangeable quartet of red-coated Irish terriers trained by Ursula Brauner from Boone’s Hollywood Animals. Screenwriter Claire-Dee Lim and director Todd Holland (TV’s “Matthew in the Middle”) give Rexxx a definite personality and he’s as demanding as any screen diva with a list of ‘perks’ that includes Kobe beef, poodle groupies and diamond bling. Problem is: they also throw in too many flatulence jokes and pooch-related puns. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Firehouse Dog” is a scruffy, spirited 6, running a bit too long to keep tykes from squirming in their seats.
