Beethoven

Charles Grodin Director: Brian Levant Brian Levant

Overview

The family comedy Beethoven comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer. English, Spanish, and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, but this disc should satisfy those looking for family friendly viewing fare.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/24/2002
UPC:	0025192002724
Original Release:	1992
Rating:	PG
Source:	Universal Studios
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Full Frame]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Time:	1:27:00
Sales rank:	26,845

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Charles Grodin	George Newton
Bonnie Hunt	Alice Newton
Dean Jones	Dr. Varnick
Oliver Platt	Harvey
Nicholle Tom	Ryce Newton
Christopher Castile	Ted Newton
Stanley Tucci	Vernon
Sarah Rose Karr	Emily Newton
David Duchovny	Brad
Patricia Heaton	Brie
David Cale	Actor
Steve Jacobs	Actor
Laurel Cronin	Devonia Peet
O-Lan Jones	Biker Woman
Nancy Fish	Miss Grundel
Craig Pinkard	Homeless Man
Sherri Paysinger	Reporter
Patrick LaBrecque	1st Bully
Matthew Brooks	3rd Bully
Cory Danziger	Mark's Friend
Maxine Hicks	Old Woman
Melora Walters	Maria
Holly Wortell	2nd Nurse
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	1st Student

Technical Credits

Edmond Dantes

Amy Jones

Gary Ross

Brian Levant	Director
Charles William Breen	Art Director
Edmond Dantes	Screenwriter
Randy Edelman	Score Composer
Gary Fettis	Set Decoration/Design
William D. Gordean	Editor
Gloria Gresham	Costumes/Costume Designer
Michael J. Gross	Producer
Amy Jones	Screenwriter
Sheldon Kahn	Associate Producer,Editor
Victor J. Kemper	Cinematographer
Joe Medjuck	Producer
Ivan Reitman	Executive Producer
Gary Ross	Screenwriter
Alex Tavoularis	Production Designer
Stan Tropp	Set Decoration/Design
Gordon A. Webb	Co-producer
Charles Wilborn	Musical Direction/Supervision

Scene Index

Side #1 --
0. Chapter List
1. Main Titles: The Purloined Pup [1:16]
2. A New Family [4:51]
3. Name That Dog [4:51]
4. Roll Over, Beethoven [4:51]
5. Breakfast With The Newtons [2:24]
6. A Day In The Life [6:41]
7. The Family Helper [1:31]
8. In Bed With Beethoven [:04]
9. The Dognapping Doctor [3:06]
10. Beethoven The Baby Sitter [3:11]
11. The Dog Closes The Deal [3:48]
12. Dangerous [5:55]
13. Put Down [4:59]
14. The Newtons To The Rescue [4:22]
15. The Dognappers Done In [2:23]
16. Good Night, Beethoven! (end Titles) [3:39]

Menu

Main
Side #1 --
Language Selection
   Spoken Languages
   Captions and Subtitles
Play

Editorial Reviews

Don't be confused by the numerous sequels; Brian Levant's Beethoven is no classic. In fact, its only classic element is the classical composer referenced in the title. Otherwise, Beethoven is just a collection of cornball moments and clichéd scenes from other family movies in which a cute kid begs "Can I keep him, Dad? Can I?" As the paterfamilias du jour, Charles Grodin seems to have been hired solely for his ability to contort his face into exaggerated shock and frustration. The fact that the titular dog is Dennis the Menace to his Mr. Wilson gets old after about a scene and a half. Playing his wife, the terrific comic actor Bonnie Hunt seems embarrassed to be involved with such obvious humor and reheated conventions. Those who should really be embarrassed are screenwriters John Hughes (under the pseudonym Edmond Dantes) and Amy Holden Jones. When they're not dwelling in the obvious, they're trafficking in the preposterous. The primary dramatic conflict involves a malevolent veterinarian (Dean Jones), who wants to steal Beethoven so he can use him for black market animal testing. See, the vet wants Beethoven for his "large skull," so he can determine the splatter capacity (not in so many words) of a certain type of handgun. Besides the fact that this is way too dark for children, it's absurd that the villain would fixate on this one dog, since there should be many available avenues for acquiring test subjects that don't involve stealing them from nuclear families. Beethoven's greatest curiosity may be its early appearances by future stars: David Duchovny and Patricia Heaton as insufferable businesspeople, and Stanley Tucci and Oliver Platt as bumbling henchmen. Having been instructed by Levant to chew the scenery, they must have been truly relieved when they were cast in their next roles.

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