Buddy

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Sanad A Rene Russo's eyes and mouth, not Buddy the Gorilla's, become the main focus of "Buddy", a Jim Henson Pictures production through Francis Ford Coppola's Zoetrope. Surprisingly, numerous close-ups of Russo's face slipped through in post-production, and she literally fills the screen so many times that the poor apes are upstaged. This unintentionally funny true story is adapted from Gertrude "Trudy" Davies Lint's memoirs about a wealthy doctor's wife who turns their mansion into a menagerie for pets and wildlife. The movie goes beyond good intentions—it positively drips with earnest sincerity. However, it never sparkles with the kind of "family film" magic that it needed, and before too long both the people and the animals seem distinctly programmed (nothing here feels real). About ten minutes in, two chimpanzees are goofing around in Russo's kitchen and start throwing a butcher's knife back and forth (it misses Alan Cumming's head by inches); yet, no eyebrows are raised because it's all in a day's fun. Still, when full-grown gorilla Buddy gets crazy during a thunderstorm, the cops are called—and everyone stares at Buddy through the window while he busts up the living room furniture. The furniture should be the least of anyone's worries in this flabbergasting, do-gooder failure. But, at least we know Russo was in good hands: whenever director Caroline Thompson needs a good pick-up shot, she gives unstartled Rene another extreme close-up. I wonder what the lipstick budget was on this picture? *1/2 from **** Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/28/23 Full Review steve d Cute enough but definitely nothing creative. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A childish and forgettable movie. Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Frances H I didn't think it could be as bad as the reviews painted it, but it was worse. Dianne Fosse died for nothing! if this movie is good. For once the critics and I agree. Not only does it set animal rights back to the dark ages (actually, animals had it better then), but it gives the impression as well that chimps are lovable, cuddly children, when we now know what a total fallacy that is--chimps can be violent, are terribly strong and actually go to war against other groups of chimps. It is movies like this that convince some people that chimps are great pets and then they kill people. That this flick purports to be a true story only makes it's wrong ideas worse. If you have to make such a film, Mighty Joe Young is a better choice--at least it doesn't make any bones about being fantasy and has the animal being taken back to the wild in the end. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/03/14 Full Review Audience Member It was a pretty enjoyable, touching and very entertaining live action family film. It had very great cinematography, great cast, comedy, drama, adventure, music, very well done costumes and a very familiar plot. I first rented this movie at Blockbuster. It was a great start from Jim Henson Pictures. Both kids and adults will enjoy this movie. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Cute but Predictable. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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