Air Bud

Infobox_Film
name = Air Bud


caption = "Air Bud" DVD cover
director = Charles Martin Smith
producer = Robert Vince
Michael Strange
Robert Vince
Anne Vince
writer = Kevin DeCicco (character Air Bud)
Paul Tamasy
Aaron Mendelsohn
starring = Michael Jeter
Kevin Zegers
Wendy Makkena
Bill Cobbs
Eric Christmas
Nicola Cavendish
Brendan Fletcher
Norman Browning
Stephen E. Miller
Bud the Dog

music = Brahm Wenger
cinematography = Mike Southon
editing = Alison Grace
distributor = Buena Vista Pictures
released = flagicon|USA August 1, 1997
runtime = 98 min.
language = English
budget = $3 million (estimated)
preceded_by =
followed_by = "" (1998)
imdb_id = 0118570
Infobox movie certificates
United_States = PG

"Air Bud" is the 1997 feature film that sparked the franchise centered around the fictional dog Buddy, a Golden Retriever. The movie's title may be wordplay with "Air Jordan", a nickname of basketball superstar Michael Jordan.

The original movie was successful, grossing US$4 million in its opening weekend and totaling US$24 million for its final run, against an estimated $3 million budget. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118570/business Box office / business for "Air Bud"] , Internet Movie Database] [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=1997&wknd=31&p=.htm Weekend Box Office, August 1–3, 1997] , BoxOfficeMojo.com]

Plot

The plot revolves around a 12-year-old boy, Josh Framm, who has an interest in basketball. After the death of his father, Josh moves with his family to a new town and is too shy to try out for his middle school's basketball team and too shy to make any friends. Through a series of coincidences, Josh meets Buddy, a Golden Retriever who escaped his cruel owner, an alcoholic clown Norman Snively. Josh soon learns that Bud has the ability to play the sport of basketball.

Buddy becomes the mascot of Josh's school's basketball team and begins appearing in their halftime shows. But just before the championship game, Buddy's original owner Snively decides that it is time for him to cash in on the dog's success. He takes Buddy back but Josh rescues him and decides to set him free to find someone else. Initially his team is losing at the championship until Buddy shows up. When it is discovered that there is no rule that a dog cannot play basketball, Buddy joins the roster to lead the team to a come from behind championship victory. Snively sues the Framm family for custody of Bud. It is decided that the dog will choose who will be its rightful owner at the suggestion of Josh's coach, a former Knicks player. Buddy attacks Snively and runs to Josh causing the judge to grant custody of Buddy to Josh while Snivley is dragged away by the police.

Sequels and spin-offs

The movie generated one theater-released sequel and many direct-to-video sequels and a spin-off. In each film, Buddy learns to play a different sport.

The following list indicates the sequel, its position in the series, and which sport is featured in it:
* "" (1998) (American football)
* "" (2000) (soccer)
* "" (2002) (baseball)
* "" (2003) (beach volleyball)
* "Air Buddies" (2006)
* "Snow Buddies" (2008) (Sled Dogs)
* "Space Buddies" (2009)
* "" (N/A) (AFL)

Cast

*Michael Jeter – Norman 'Norm' F. Snively / Hound the Clown
*Kevin Zegers – Josh Framm
*Wendy Makkena – Mrs. Jackie Framm
*Bill Cobbs – Coach Arthur Chaney
*Eric Christmas – Judge Cranfield
*Jonas Fredrico – Julius Aster
*Nicola Cavendish – Principal Pepper
*Brendan Fletcher – Larry Willingham
*Norman Browning – Mr. Buck Willingham
*James Manley – Professor Plum
*Joeseph Lester – Father Cunningham
*Stephen E. Miller – Coach Joe Barker
*Shayn Solberg – Tom Stewart
*Jesebel Mather and Kati Mahter – Andrea Framm
*Buddy the Dog – Buddy
*Franco the Cat – Buddy's "Nephew"
*Snazin Smith – Nurse (uncredited)

See also

* ""
* ""

Notes

External links

* [http://www.airbud.com/ Official website]
*
* [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/air_bud/ "Air Bud" at RottenTomatoes.com]
* [http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:156970 "Air Bud" at All Movie Guide]