Even as someone who has a dog, I have never really
understood the appeal of films starring dogs. Whether it’s the Underdog
adaptation, the numerous Air Bud sequels, the numerous Beethoven sequels…
actually, that’s another thing: I have never understood why these films spawn
franchises that last for that damn
long. Anyway, while it may be the archetype of the 'a child and their pet'
subgenre, unless your name is Disney, chances are you won’t be able to bring
anything new to the proceedings. As such, probably the only way that this could
be done any more, and make it to the big screen no less, is if it was based on
a true story. Thankfully, we have another entry in the stranger than fiction
files where in south-western Victoria early last year, a sheepdog saved a
colony of penguins from predators like wolves and foxes. Well, anything for
something potentially interesting to come out of Australian cinema, I say, but
how well did this story translate to film?
