UNDERDOG — * 1/2 — Alex Neuberger, James Belushi, Peter Dinklage, and starring the voice of Jason Lee; rated PG (violence, vulgarity, drugs, mild profanity); Carmike 12 and Ritz 15; Century Sandy and South Salt Lake; Cinemark Jordan Landing; Megaplex District, Gateway and Jordan Commons; Red Carpet 5-Star and Gateway 8; Redwood Drive-in; Westates Holladay Centre
On paper, the concept of a live-action version of the old cartoon series "Underdog" seems about as smart as doing a cartoon based on Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction."
Yet that didn't stop Disney from releasing "Underdog," an action-comedy that is every bit as juvenile and ill-conceived as you'd expect.
The only tolerable bits are the featured pooches, as well as brief snippets of the earlier cartoon.
This version of the tale changes things considerably. The title character is now a failed police dog and former lab subject named Shoeshine.
A kindly security guard, Dan Unger (James Belushi), has taken the beagle home as a present for his estranged teenage son, Jack (Alex Neuberger).
However, Jack seems less than impressed with his new pet. That is, until he finds out Shoeshine can talk and that he has superpowers.
Both are fortunate side-effects of experiments conducted by mad scientist Simon Barsinister (Peter Dinklage), who's trying to recover the pooch and re-create his formula.
The best director Frederik Du Chau ("Racing Stripes") and three credited screenwriters can come up with are spoofs of the "Superman" movies and "Lady and the Tramp."
Outside of that, about all the film offers is some bad CGI effect work, a bored-sounding Jason Lee providing the voice of the heroic canine and lots of dumb slapstick.
"Underdog" is rated PG for comic violence and action (assorted animal, vehicular and explosive mayhem), brief animal cruelty, crude bodily function humor and references (all animal), drug content (hypodermic needles, and various potions and chemicals), and scattered mild profanity. Running time: 84 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com