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      Buddy

      PG Released Jun 6, 1997 1 hr. 24 min. Kids & Family Comedy Drama Adventure List
      26% 19 Reviews Tomatometer 32% 5,000+ Ratings Audience Score Thanks to the indulgence of her patient husband, Dr. Bill Lintz (Robbie Coltrane), wealthy eccentric Trudy (Rene Russo) has already accumulated a large collection of wild animals by 1931 when she is introduced to Buddy, a sickly young gorilla. Trudy raises Buddy as her own child, dressing him in human clothes, and the ape responds with absolute obedience. But as Buddy grows older and larger, Trudy is unable to restrain him from turning increasingly violent. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Sep 19 Buy Now

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      Audience Reviews

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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 out of 5 stars 11/28/23 Full Review antonis k It has all the best intentions for sure but 'Buddy' misses the point when the drama overcomes the comedy. (5/10) Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d Cute enough but definitely nothing creative. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review matthew b A childhood movie that sadly doesn't hold up on re-watch. It's a nice looking movie, but hollow on the inside. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review william s Overly cute and just plain silly with a lost in the wilderness performance from Russo. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A childish and forgettable movie. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Photos

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      Buddy

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      Critics Reviews

      View All (19) Critics Reviews
      Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly Rated: C+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Globe and Mail Rated: 3.5/4 Apr 12, 2002 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times I watched this movie with steadily mounting incredulity. I was trying to find the category for it, and there isn't one. Rated: 2/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Chuck O'Leary FulvueDrive-in.com Rated: 1/5 May 7, 2007 Full Review Michael Szymanski Zap2it.com Rated: 3/5 Sep 25, 2005 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Rated: 2/5 Aug 12, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Thanks to the indulgence of her patient husband, Dr. Bill Lintz (Robbie Coltrane), wealthy eccentric Trudy (Rene Russo) has already accumulated a large collection of wild animals by 1931 when she is introduced to Buddy, a sickly young gorilla. Trudy raises Buddy as her own child, dressing him in human clothes, and the ape responds with absolute obedience. But as Buddy grows older and larger, Trudy is unable to restrain him from turning increasingly violent.
      Director
      Caroline Thompson
      Executive Producer
      Stephanie Allain, Francis Ford Coppola, Brian Henson
      Screenwriter
      William Joyce, Caroline Thompson
      Distributor
      Columbia Pictures
      Production Co
      American Zoetrope, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Jim Henson Productions
      Rating
      PG
      Genre
      Kids & Family, Comedy, Drama, Adventure
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jun 6, 1997, Original
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Apr 16, 2012
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $10.0M
      Sound Mix
      Surround, SDDS, Dolby
      Aspect Ratio
      Scope (2.35:1), 35mm
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