Air Bud (1997)

An unexpected player joins the school basketball team - a circus dog who escaped from a cruel master.

Director:

Charles Martin Smith

Writers:

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

Stars:

Michael Jeter, Kevin Zegers, Wendy Makkena

4 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:

lawsuit | gavel | abandoned church | car in water | clown | 

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Taglines:

The dog is in the house.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Jeter (Norm Snively) and Wendy Makkena (Jackie Framm) also starred together in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) as Father Ignatius and Sister Mary Robert.

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Goofs

When Snively chases Josh and Buddy through the park, Josh's jeans change color from light blue to dark blue, then back to light blue, then to dark blue, then back to light blue.

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Quotes

[after Buddy got to basketball championship game. Josh and other Timberwolves hugs Buddy. Coach Chaney quickly put Buddy into the game, replacing a fouled-out Timberwolf]
Both Warrior headcoaches: Are they nuts?
Arthur Chaney: What's the matter, gentlemen? Afraid your team might get beat by a dog?
Both Warrior headcoaches: [the two Warriors coaches answer together] Put him in.
[Coach Chaney quickly and quietly laughs, slightly diabolically]

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Michael Jackson's This Is It/The House of the Devil/Gentlemen Broncos (2009)

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Soundtracks

O Holy Night
Music by Adolphe Adam (uncredited)
Lyricist: English lyrics by John Sullivan Dwight (uncredited)
Performed by St. John's Episcopal Choir
Donald Pearson, Conductor
Courtesy of Delos International
By Arrangement with Source/Q

User Reviews

A simple, innocent, mildely intertaning after school special.

A young boy who's father has passed away moves to a new town with his baby sister and mother, with little hopes of making new friends or getting over his father's death: until he finds a dog who can play basketball! Turning suddenly from being an incompetent water boy, whom only dreams of joining the school basketball team, to an admirable young athlete with his great new dog, Buddy.

A mildly entertaining afternoon special for kids. With it's innocence and slitly comicle charm, this movie, like all other afterschool specials has it's moments. I wouldn't say it was funny, it dosn't have what most of the modern day kids or pre-teens are looking for in their entertainment: Bombs going off, blood, martial arts or showy costumes. It's the type of thing for a family with three or four children of mixed ages to watch with their mother before nap time. Isn't obscene like most movies even a nine year old might watch these days, yet isn't Barnie or Elmo either.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Disney's Air Bud

Filming Locations:

Fort Langley Community Hall, Fort Langley, Langley Township, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,878,632, 3 August 1997

Gross USA:

$23,144,499

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$23,144,499

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walt Disney Pictures, Keystone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1