As far as I’m concerned, Benji never made a bad movie. Were they all flawless? No. Did Benji’s Very Own Christmas Story fail to deliver the same caliber of grit, determination and courage we’d come to expect from his first two films (Benji and For the Love of Benji)? Maybe. But what that seasonal installment lacked in streetwise action, it made up for by highlighting the unsurpassed versatility of its hero. Spoiler Alert: Benji single-handedly saves Christmas. Interesting fact: Before his heroic exploits were captured on film Benji was just another mixed-breed puppy at a shelter in Burbank. He pulled himself up from nothing to become the first dog to be almost nominated for an Academy Award. That’s how we did things back then. Don’t get me started. When it came to selecting the first film for the first annual canine film festival in Mrs. Baxter’s living room, I wanted to open with a tour-de-force—the kind of film that would entertain everybody in attendance (Vern and Sparky). After careful consideration, that decision became clear: Benji the Hunted(1987). In case your memory is failing, that’s the one that begins with Benji lost at sea following a tragic boating accident in the Pacific northwest. Fearing the worst, a search party is mounted to scan the waves and coast for our beloved protagonist. Unbeknownst to the searchers, Benji emerges from the ocean in the dead of night—a stranger in a strange land. Alone, but lucky to be alive, he shakes himself dry. It’s here that the audience gets its first sense of Benji’s trademark never-say-die worldview. Cold, wet and presumably frightened our hero ventures into the uncharted forests of western Oregon. I took a moment to scan the living room. Sparky’s eyes were fixed on the screen. Never had I seen my pal sit so still.
Signed,
Morty
Leave A Comment