Top Dog Movie Review 1995

Another cop-and-dog-team-up-to-get-the-bad-guys flick. This one, however, is meant to appeal to the kids who liked "Sidekicks." That raises a problem with the unfortunately topical right-wing-hate group-bombing plot. Jake Wilder (Norris), a beer-swillin' karate-choppin' loner cop, teams up with canine Reno, whose ex-partner was killed by the neo-Nazi terrorists. Weak script and erratic storyline can't find a comfortable balance between the too-cute pooch scenes and the (admittedly toned-down) violence. Reno steals every scene he's in, and provides the flick's few redeeming moments.

Distribution

Artisan Entertainment, 2700 Colorado Ave., Ste. 200, Santa Monica, CA 90404, Phone: (310)449-9200, Fax: (310)255-3730, URL: http://www.artisanent.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 93 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comic Adventure, King of Beasts (Dogs), Loner Cops, Martial Arts, Nazis & Other Paramilitary Slugs, Buddies, Peculiar Partners

Screenplay

Ron Swanson

Cast

Chuck Norris, Clyde Kusatsu, Michele Lamar Richards, Carmine Caridi, Peter Savard Moore, Erik von Detten, Herta Ware, Kai Wulff, Francesco Quinn, Timothy Bottoms

Cinematography

Joao Fernandes

Director

Aaron Norris

Producer

Andy Howard, Tom Steinmetz, Seth Willenson, LIVE Entertainment, Inc. Tanglewood Films, MGM Home Entertainment