Good Boy! 2003

Critics score:
44 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: A clever charmer. Read more

Christine Dolen, Miami Herald: No, this isn't the stuff of a kiddie classic like Holes. But, to quote from another movie with a vocal four-legged protagonist, it'll do. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: ... terrible, terrible movie. Read more

Ellen Fox, Chicago Tribune: A devastating work of pro-doggie propaganda. Read more

Anita Gates, New York Times: As children's film premises go, this is a cute one, but the execution is a failure. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The movie has elements of Lilo & Stitch and Cats & Dogs, but it's sweeter and wittier. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: An affecting, hot-buttered slice of toasted E.T. with a smidgen of Benji thrown in just because. Read more

Houston Chronicle: Read more

Scott Brown, Entertainment Weekly: Little is asked of talking-animal movies, save charm, heart, and at least one scene where said animal wears a lampshade. Good Boy! has all those things, plus a winning story line. Read more

Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail: Good Boy! is so gentle and fleecy, dozing parents might suspect a fabric softener was involved in the creative process. Read more

Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News: Good Boy! offers more than its share of charming kid-pleasing surprises, deftly aimed at the 12-and-under set. Read more

Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly: There are the usual impediments -- uncomprehending parents, neighborhood bullies -- but the real charm of the movie lies in the goofy personae of the chatty canines, exquisitely trained pooches. Read more

Gene Seymour, Newsday: You wish Good Boy! aspired to a less formulaic cleverness and sentimentality than shown here. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: Just don't be surprised if very soon you find yourself scratching at the door to be let out. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: A charming runt of a movie. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The movie asks us to consider a race of superior beings who are built a few feet off the ground, lack opposable thumbs and walk around nude all the time. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: A painfully dull kids' picture. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Daphne Gordon, Toronto Star: A film which effectively capitalizes on the human heart's weakness for cute things. Read more

Derek Adams, Time Out: Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: No new ground is dug up in Good Boy, but the story is well-paced, sweet and lively, filling a void for very young filmgoers. Read more

Lael Loewenstein, Variety: Read more

Richard Gehr, Village Voice: Jim Henson Pictures happy meal. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: A simple but perfectly satisfying little story about a boy who wants to keep his dog. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: Surprisingly nimble and fun to watch. Read more