The Shaggy Dog

Brian Robbins's remake of the 1959 family favourite starring Fred MacMurray and Jean Hagen (reinvented in 1976 as The Shaggy D.A.) proves you can't teach new tricks to an old dog story.

Tim Allen's antics, enlivened with animatronic puppets and computer trickery, should provide a giggle or two for younger viewers but parents will undoubtedly dog nap through most of the film, which reaches a comic crescendo with a hound furiously sniffing the leading man's rear end.

Crusading Deputy District Attorney Dave Douglas (Allen) has pursued his career at the expense of his wife Rebecca (Davis) and two children.

A magical twist of fate (or rather, exposure to a topsecret genetic-mutation serum) transforms Dave into a bearded collie, giving the selfish husband a new perspective on life.

After a few hours, Dave reverts to his two-legged self but he is powerless to control the metamorphosis, which takes place at the most inopportune moments.

In order to return to his old life, Dave must outwit the shadowy forces responsible for the serum, spearheaded by moneygrabbing genius Dr Kozak (Downey Jr).

The Shaggy Dog is a mongrel family comedy.

Director Robbins fails to keep a leash on his lead star and very quickly, his film goes to the dogs.