Review by Louise Keller:
Paws is a delight. An enchanting and absurd film certain
to amuse and entertain film lovers of all ages, Paws combines an
accessible and witty script, sensitive direction, good
performances and an adorable dog with Billy Connolly’s
voice.
Instantly appealing, the film is told from the point of
view of Zac, the computer-crazy teenager, who inadvertently
becomes the friend and ally of this superdog, PC. And what a cute
dog he is. Incredibly well trained, PC is not only intelligent,
loyal, lovable, innovative and a techno-geek with paws that can
hit a keyboard impressively, but also has a off-beat sense of
humour and a healthy eye for the pretty bitch next door.
The
off-the-wall idea how PC chooses Billy Connolly’s voice is
so bizarre that it’s within realms of credibility.
Paws
takes us on a ride where we succumb to our imagination, joining
PC on his adventures, and meeting some appealing characters.
Nathan Cavaleri is terrific as Zac. He has a certain earthiness
which is hugely appealing. Caroline Gillmer is solid as Suzie,
and Sandy Gore’s Anja is a Cruella De Vil / Morticia cross
with white hair, black nails, red convertible and a long-haired,
snarling canine bodyguard to boot.
Look out for the scene where
PC displays his canine admiration for the pooch next door - on
Zac’s credit card. And from the positive reaction and
chuckles of delight from preview audience members, it seems the
humour works on many levels.
Review by Andrew L. Urban:
What a stroke of genius to have Billy Connolly voice the
dog! So much rides on that voice for this family feature film (a
rarity for Australia) with its ambitious leap of credibility. You
either make that leap and enjoy the film, or you grumble about,
stuck on the ground in logic and sensible shoes.
And since the
movies are about magic, I happily succumb to family fantasy, be
it spacious (ET, etc) or canine (101 Dalmatians, etc). The
storyline is sufficiently multi-layered to keep adults in line,
while the animal antics and children’s elements serve the
younger crowd. Genuine laughs, a touch of villainous hamming from
Gore which she seems to relish, and a reasonably tight structure
help to bring this off as a universally enjoyable package.
