Underdog (u)

Feb 1 2008 By Graham Young

RACING Stripes director Frederik du Chau returns with a second animal story, this time about a police sniffer dog which learns the power of Babe-style speech.

Reviving the '60s animated TV series slogan "There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!", the star of the show is a beagle found by security guard Dan Unger (James Belushi).

His teenage son, Jack, then discovers the mutt's superpowers - accidentally created by mad scientist Dr Simon Barsinister (Penelope star Peter Dinklage).

With the doc threatening to destroy Capitol City, can the four-legged caped crusader voiced by Jason Lee save the day and protect a spaniel called Polly Purebred?

Uncritical young viewers who enjoyed - or even missed out on - last year's live action thriller, Firehouse Dog, will probably think this is the dog's baskets even though it runs to a mere 82 minutes.

But adults will wonder about Disney releasing something with such half-baked effects that only Shoeshine's power of speech prevents it from being labelled Pedigree Dumb.