Sheeba (DVD Reviews)

18 Dec, 2010 By: Angelique Flores

Prebook 12/21/10; Street 1/18/11
Questar
Family
$19.99 DVD
Not rated.
Stars Ed Asner, Judge Reinhold, Dylan Patton.

This family drama seems to have taken a page from the classic “Lassie” series.

It’s just after 9/11. Clay and his mom, Kim, have moved from New York City to her small, rural hometown with her father.

Clay resents leaving his father, Jim, and his own hometown behind. On top of that, he gets bullied at school by a kid named Wax. To cheer him up, his mom gets him a dog, Sheeba.

Meanwhile in New York, Clay’s dad, a firefighter, struggles with post-9/11 trauma. He used to work with Kim’s brother, Dwayne, another firefighter who died during 9/11. Throughout the film, both of them have flashbacks to the attacks and are still coming to grips with the loss of Dwayne.

Though Clay at first wants nothing to do with Sheeba, he becomes attached to her. However, the bully takes her from him. One night, Clay sets out to get Sheeba back. He succeeds and finds respite in his little hideaway shack, where he falls asleep. Wax, who’s far too evil for a bully, locks Clay in the shack and sets it on fire. Sheeba escapes from the burning shack and finds Clay’s friends, leading them and the rest of the townspeople to the blaze.

Many of the plot points are a bit too convenient, and the 9/11 element of the film is too dark and sad for this sort of otherwise heartwarming family film.

But, if you like dog films and family dramas with a happy ending, this is one to check out.