Air Bud (1997)

A young boy and a talented stray dog with an amazing basketball playing ability become instant friends. Rebounding from his father's accidental death, 12-year-old Josh Framm moves with his ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Writers:

Kevin DiCicco (character "Air Bud"), Paul Tamasy,

Stars:

Michael Jeter, Kevin Zegers, Wendy Makkena

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Jeter	...	Norm Snively
Kevin Zegers	...	Josh Framm
Wendy Makkena	...	Jackie Framm
Bill Cobbs	...	Arthur Chaney
Eric Christmas	...	Judge Cranfield
Jay Brazeau	...	Referee 1
Nicola Cavendish	...	Principal Pepper
Brendan Fletcher	...	Larry Willingham
Norman Browning	...	Buck Willingham
Stephen E. Miller	...	Coach Barker
Shayn Solberg	...	Tom
Chris Turner	...	Greg
Christine Kennedy	...	Melissa
Frank C. Turner	...	Bailiff
Marion Dodd	...	Reporter (as Marian Dodd)

Storyline

A young boy and a talented stray dog with an amazing basketball playing ability become instant friends. Rebounding from his father's accidental death, 12-year-old Josh Framm moves with his family to the small town of Fernfield, Washington. The new kid in town, Josh has no friends and is too shy to try out for the school basketball team. Instead he prefers to practice alone on an abandoned court, he befriends a runaway golden retriever named Buddy. Josh is amazed when he realizes that Buddy loves basketball...that is playing basketball...and he is GOOD! Josh eventually makes the school team and Buddy is named the Team Mascot. Josh and Buddy become the stars of halftime. Buddy's half-time talent draws media attention. Unfortunately, when Buddy's mean former owner, Norm Snively, comes along with a scheme to cash in on the pup's celebrity, it looks like they are going to be separated.

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Plot Keywords:

basketball | dog | boy | golden retriever | slobber | 

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Taglines:

He Sits. He Stays. He Shoots. He Scores.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Air Bud Productions

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Disney's Air Bud

Filming Locations:

Lord Kitchener Elementary School, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$4,878,632 (USA) (1 August 1997)

Gross:

$24,629,916 (USA) (12 December 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Keystone Pictures, Equicap

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Four basketball athletes and one team name, were mentioned, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shawn Kemp, Dennis Rodman and the Harlem Globetrotters.

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Goofs

During both "Hail Mary Shot" scenes, the game clock shown in the slow motion shots with 5 seconds on it is clearly different than the one seen on the scoreboard during the other scenes.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Norm Snively: [after seeing a tear in his shirt] Oh, darn it!
[dresses Buddy; of a newspaper]
Norm Snively: Okay, mutt, show time! Okay, come here. Hold it. Hold it. Do not make me use this, Okay?
[rings doorbell; it opens]
Norm Snively: Hi, Clown and the Hound!
[entering]
Norm Snively: Ow!
[chuckling]
Norm Snively: Okay, kids, it's "Happy Slappy Time!" All right now, we'll start off with a little plate-spinnin', okay?
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Siskel & Ebert: The Postman/Mr. Magoo/Jackie Brown/An American Werewolf in Paris/Afterglow/The Education of Little Tree (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Clair"
Written and Performed by Gilbert O'Sullivan

User Reviews

Good family film.

Need a movie to keep your kids distracted for 2 hours? Then this is the one for you! Well, it's not like a best movie Disney has made or anything. But I thought it would teach kids some responsibility. And it definitely has some entertainment value. Kinda like Old Yeller without the lifelong trauma.