Benji: Off the Leash! (2004)

Director:

Joe Camp

Writer (WGA):

Joe Camp (written by)

Release Date:

28 April 2005 (Thailand)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Tagline:

Rules are made to be housebroken

Plot:

Three unlikely, unsuspecting souls who come face-to-face with that moment in their lives when they must stand and be counted...

Plot Keywords:

Dog Actor | Animal Actor | Dog | Benji | Leash

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Nick Whitaker	...	Colby Hatchett
Chris Kendrick	...	Mr. Hatchett
Nate Bynum	...	Ozzie
Randall Newsome	...	Livingston
Duane Stephens	...	Sheldon
Christy Summerhays	...	Claire
Carlton Bluford	...	Dudley (as Carleton Bluford)
Neal Barth	...	Zacharia Finch
Melinda Haynes	...	Miriam
Kathleen Camp	...	Nancy / Merlin / Newscaster No. 4
Jeff Olson	...	Paul
Lincoln Hoppe	...	Donnie Madison
Joey Miyashima	...	Vat
Scott Wilkinson	...	Movie Producer
Margaret Loesch	...	Newscaster No. 1

Also Known As:

Benji Returns: Rags to Riches (USA) (working title)
Benji Returns: The Promise of Christmas (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and some mild language.

Runtime:

Argentina:99 min | USA:97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | USA:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ogden, Utah, USA

Company:

Mulberry Square Productions

Movie Connections:

Follows Oh Heavenly Dog (1980)

Perfect movie about animal abuse, not for children!

DO NOT TAKE YOUNG CHILDREN TO THIS MOVIE! I took my 2 young children, 6 and 3 along with a another mom and her 2 children, same ages...anxious to see a cheerful, cute Benji adventure like we were kids was a far cry from what this movie portrayed...the first scene where the alcoholic, clearly child and animal abusive father angrily tossed the Benji puppy across the floor and verbally hoped that he died was only the start...I'm a former employee of the SPCA of Texas so I know the message of animal abuse, puppy mills all too well...I can support educating adults and children on this but this was too strong for young children by far.

Joe Camp used the Benji name to draw parents in to get his message across. He should have made a G rated one as well that we could enjoy and not feel sick about...it's not the way I want to spend an afternoon with my kids. The abusive father was a great actor, you hated him more than life itself and wanted to kill him the way he did to the dogs he abused, i.e. the puppy he placed in a tied up bag then tossed into a river simply b/c he didn't want it. Thanks Joe. I hope you're taking the proceeds to animal charities for what our children went through today.