Benji: Off the Leash!
Mulberry Square Releasing | Release Date: August 20, 2004 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
49
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 17 Critic Reviews
Positive:
3
Mixed:
12
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Not one of the great dog movies, but it's a good one, abandoning wall-to-wall cuteness for a drama about a homeless puppy. Read full review
70
The New York TimesDave Kehr
After a summer of computer-generated blockbusters, the amiably low-tech Benji: Off the Leash! seems like a breath of fresh air. Read full review
63
USA TodayClaudia Puig
Falls flat, enlivened only by the performances of its two charismatic lead dogs. The story is heavy-handed, and the human performances are, at their worst, caricatured. Read full review
60
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
It's clumsy, but also strangely refreshing. To children raised on "Spy Kids" and "SpongeBob SquarePants," it may look as primitive as a daguerreotype, but never underestimate the persuasive powers of a cute animal. Read full review
60
Washington PostDonna Peremes
The overall unevenness of tone is the movie's biggest flaw, but the slo-mo scenes of doggie derring-do are quite funny. Read full review
60
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
It's sweet-natured, soothing and there's a behind-the-scenes/blooper reel at the end that will reassure anyone worried about the animals' treatment during filming. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyRobert Abele
Yes, Joe Camp has gone meta. It's hard to not feel a measure of warmth for the determined optimism of his enterprise, especially since he hasn't lost the touch for cute dog antics. Read full review
50
The Hollywood ReporterKirk Honeycutt
Benji is back, which is good news for youngsters and pet-loving families. Film lovers perhaps should steer clear, however, as hokey melodrama and sloppy comedy fill the gaps between neat dog tricks. Read full review
50
Los Angeles TimesKevin Crust
Unfortunately, the new film does not live up to the low-key charm of the original. It's essentially a long-form public service announcement extolling the virtues of animal adoption and decrying the scourge of unfettered dog breeding. Read full review
50
Boston GlobeCatherine Foster
Has a raggy charm, like the dogs, and a solid moral ending. For a late-summer children's film, it does the job. Read full review
50
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
All the Benji productions have had a high corn content, but in this one, even the corn is cheap. Read full review
50
VarietyJoe Leydon
A mildly pleasant, aggressively retro kidpic that should please undemanding moppets without unduly boring their parents. Read full review
42
Seattle Post-IntelligencerJane Horwitz
Love of dogs is key, because the amateurish acting, writing and production values in this independently made film feel more like the stuff of home movies than Hollywood. Read full review
40
Village VoiceEd Halter
This unwarranted iteration of the '70s shaggy-dog tale pales in entertainment value compared to its website, which features a rant from the mutt's creator, Joe Camp. Read full review
40
Austin ChronicleNick Barbaro
The sentiment is saccharin; the plot is … well, let's be generous and say unambitious. Read full review
38
New York PostLou Lumenick
Disco may still be dead, but Benji: Off the Leash! resurrects another dubious artifact of the '70s - the crudely made family films starring that lovable mutt. Read full review
25
San Francisco ChronicleCarla Meyer
A dreary, distasteful exercise, "Off the Leash'' favors dogs over humans, framing canine high jinks with an ugly story of domestic abuse. Read full review
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