Movies / Air Bud (1997)
Runtime: 98 min
Languages: English
A charming children's movie about a lonely boy and a dog who can shoot hoops.^L^C5 Since his father's death, Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers) has become increasingly withdrawn. Even basketball, once his passion, scarcely seems to matter. His worried mom (Wendy Makkena) moves the family to a small town near where she grew up, hoping that a fresh start will revive Josh. But he doesn't fit in well at school, and seems worse than ever. Until he finds Buddy, an abandoned golden retriever who can nose a ball into a net better than any dog has a right to. With Buddy at his side, Josh finds the courage to try out for the school team and come out of his shell around other kids. Buddy becomes the team's mascot and inspired by the pooch and their new coach, a former pro named Arthur Chaney (Bill Cobbs), they begin winning. But everything comes crashing down when Buddy's owner, a nasty party clown named Norm Snively (Michael Jeter), shows up to claim his dog.^L^C5 AIR BUD's story is nothing strikingly original, except for the gimmick of the basketball-playing hound. But it's told with skill and a great deal of heart, and greatly enhanced by subtle performances from Zegers, Cobb and Makkena, who manages to make Mrs. Framm less insipid than is the standard for moms in kid's movies. They are, of course, all thoroughly upstaged by Buddy, a sweet-faced dog with irresistible eyes. Add in the solid values that drive the story--the significance of teamwork, the importance of family, the merit in not giving up--and AIR BUD is a very attractive family package.
Keywords (19) |
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car in water moving in washington state abandoned church clown newspaper loss of father bed dog basketball More Keywords » |
Directors (1) | Credit |
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Charles Martin Smith | ... |
Writers (3) | Credit |
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Aaron Mendelsohn | (written by) |
Kevin DiCicco | (character "Air Bud") |
Paul Tamasy | (written by) & |
Composers (1) | Credit |
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Brahm Wenger | ... |
Editors (1) | Credit |
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Alison Grace | ... |
Cinematographers (1) | Credit |
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Mike Southon | ... |
Actors (54) | Credit |
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Acram Adam | Basketball Player - Warriors |
Bill Cobbs | Arthur Chaney |
Brendan Fletcher | Larry Willingham |
Buddy the Dog | Buddy / Air-Bud |
Chris Davies | Basketball Player - Timberwolves |
Christine Kennedy | Melissa |
Chris Turner | Greg |
Colby Chartrand | Additional Basketball Player |
Colin Bradner | Additional Basketball Player |
David Katz | Additional Basketball Player |
Dustin Smiley | Additional Basketball Player |
Eric Christmas | Judge Cranfield |
Fenton Fisher | Basketball Player - Warriors |
Frank C. Turner | Bailiff |
Ian Watson | Additional Basketball Player |
Jack Van Eijnsbergan | Basketball Player - Timberwolves |
Jason Qi | Basketball Player - Timberwolves |
Jay Brazeau | Referee 1 |
Jay Vidler | Basketball Player - Warriors |
Jessebel Mather | Andrea Framm |
Joel Haywood | Basketball Player - Timberwolves |
John Jassebi | Additional Basketball Player |
Jordie Price | Additional Basketball Player |
Josh Jassebi | Basketball Player - Warriors |
Kati Mather | Andrea Framm |
Kevin DiCicco | Referee 2 |
Kevin Zegers | Josh Framm |
Kodi Bbela | Basketball Player - Timberwolves |
Levon Kendall | Additional Basketball Player |
Lewis Pierce | Basketball Player - Timberwolves |
Marc Rinfret | Additional Basketball Player |
Marcus Bisset-Covaneiro | Basketball Player - Warriors |
Mariel Losso | Basketball Player - Warriors |
Marion Dodd | Reporter (as Marian Dodd) |
Mark Jackson | Additional Basketball Player |
Matthew Rollinson | Additional Basketball Player |
Michael Davies | Additional Basketball Player |
Michael Jeter | Norm Snively |
Miles Bridge | Basketball Player - Warriors |
Nicola Cavendish | Principal Pepper |
Nile Nurse | Basketball Player - Warriors |
Norman Browning | Buck Willingham |
Phillip Bisset-Covaneiro | Basketball Player - Warriors |
Ryan Van Eijnsbergan | Basketball Player - Timberwolves |
Sean M. Reed | Sticky (uncredited) |
Shayn Solberg | Tom |
Stefan Verster | Additional Basketball Player |
Stephen E. Miller | Coach Barker |
Tom Hearn | Additional Basketball Player |
Tyler Mooi | Additional Basketball Player |
Ursula Martin | Party Mom |
Wendy Makkena | Jackie Framm |
William Wong | Additional Basketball Player |
Yashar Zandiyeh | Basketball Player - Timberwolves |