Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

"Man's Best Friend", about a genetically altered dog that kills any perceived threat, is pretty much what you'd expect. Ally Sheedy really chews the scenery as the reporter investigating cruelty to animals and inadvertently releasing the bloodthirsty pooch. But no matter, the movie still is pretty fun to watch, with the full understanding that it's basically a totally dumb flick. Lance Henriksen, playing the scientist who created the murderous hound, lets his face do the acting.Like I said, it's mostly just a fun movie to watch. Definitely nothing special about it. Although I should admit that I'd never heard of a Tibetan mastiff until I read a description of the movie.

This is a film that gives new life to the awesome possibilities of genetic testing and breeding in animals. I found it rather amusing.The real star of the film is a 130lb. Tibetan Mastiff named "Max". Truly a beautiful animal to say the least but as portrayed in this film, he can be quite frightening!I would not suggest children under the age of 10 watch this. Its not real bad but you don't want to frighten your child of dogs. Tibetan Mastiffs are known for their deep "bellowing" bark which is often compared to that of a Fog Horn! This movie could easily scare a young, unsuspecting child.It does get started a little quick but is still a movie worth watching. Its great for those nights alone, cuddled up on the couch with some popcorn.

Ambitious television reporter Ally Sheedy (spunky and looking terrific) does an unauthorized news piece on lab-animal conditions, inadvertently freeing a seemingly lovable mutt who is actually a ticking time bomb with a wagging tail! Critically-drubbed film (Entertainment Weekly still takes potshots at it) plays like a Disney movie on acid. It has a few gory scenes, but is actually a lot of fun. The script, while nothing spectacular, is quite sharp and morbidly funny, and the performances by Sheedy and Lance Henriksen are very good. A keen, entertaining sleeper which could become a cult item. **1/2 from ****

I remember there was a huge advertising blitz when this film his theaters in the fall of 1993. They tried to make it out like it was the most terrifying American horror movie since The Exorcist. I saw an edited version on tv and rented the video last night. Its an enjoyable film, but it really isn't scary at all! In fact its unintentionally funny in many places, especially with the dumb cops trying to find this killer dog. The two kids in this film are really cute, especially the one who teaches the parrot to curse. Lance Henricksen is a fine character actor (he was the villian in Johnny Handsome and a wonderful Abraham Lincoln in The Day Lincoln Was Shot), he plays a stereotypical "mad scientist" and does a wonderfully hammy job. Ally Sheedy is no Katherine Hepburn, but I think she is a much better actress then given credit for. She was unfairly stereotyped as a "Brat Packer". She gives a good performance in this film as an airhead reporter who breaks out this killer dog. My favorite scene is the one where the dog chases that cat and swallows it whole, I love the expression on the kid's faces! There is also a funny scene where the dog sees an attractive female dog and-well watch the film and see. What makes this a better film is the fact the director does not use a lot of gory special effects, I wish a lot of these slasher film makers would take heed. A lot of the PETA crowd will probably be offended by this film, but its a nice way to waste 90 minutes. By the way, I knew before I even saw this film that they would HAVE to include a scene involving a very unlucky mail carrier and they do.