Wonderfully offbeat film!

Highly Overrated But Still Good

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

it seems be the film for animals lovers. and only for theme. because , against the premise than it reflects real facts, the story is far to be interesting or plausible, the end too sweet and Rene Russo in a role for she has a huge effort to do coherent. sure, the eccentric rich people stories are a good subject but it is not comfortable to answer yourself why the director has need by Rene Russo, Robbie Coltrane or Alan Cumming for his film. a noble message like this could be better with not great actors. the only good point - the performance of Irma P. Hall. short, a film with very precise target. only a fan of animals can ignore the errors of logic and the too obvious message and could discover the purpose of film, out of a sentimental story about incompatibility between different species.

Buddy (1997): Dir: Caroline Thompson / Cast: Rene Russo, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Cumming, Paul Reubens, Dane Cook: Poster ads feature Rene Russo sitting with her chin cupped in her hands surrounded by all sorts of animals including a gorilla named Buddy. To a parent it might seem harmless but it is about as suitable for children as Cujo. Supposedly based on a true story of a woman who could communicates with animals and the gorilla she accepts that will grow too big and out of control. At one point Buddy breaks loose and causes a panic. Then viewers are subject to an attack on this woman as well as the destruction of her home. An adult film packaged as kids entertainment that will hardly appeal to either. Also featured are two chimpanzees that toss a meat clever back and forth. Production is fine but directing by Caroline Thompson is lousy. Part of the problem here is tone. This is not Rene Russo's finest moment for she overacts to the max. It is unfortunate considering this was a grand opportunity to play a lead. In flat supporting roles are Robbie Coltrane as the doctor, and Alan Cumming as an animal keeper. Paul Reubens also makes an appearance although his playhouse is far more fun than this. Dane Cook makes an early appearance as a cop. The film has good intentions with its theme of animal rights but to o be part of this dread should be considered animal cruelty. Score: 3 / 10

Does anyone remember the name of a movie made around this same time which starred the sign language gorilla and young teenage boy who kidnaps him from the lab his mother is working at and the adventure ensues? Thank you for your help!!!! I would like to try and find this movie on DVD if it exists. It was kind-of a cute comedy-family movie as I remember and the teenage boy drives him I think to Canada after dressing him up in a trench coat and hat and stealing him in a van and then taking him to a min-mart type place for food. Does this sound familiar to anyone? I could really use your help as the name escapes me now. I do remember renting it on VHS though around 1994-1997. Somewhere around that time frame. I think it was better than Buddy as a movie.

I was lucky (?) enough to receive free tickets to Buddy during its opening week. I stood in a line with other people who were too cheap or too bright to spend money on this bomb.The question that came up in the movie most in my mind was, "Why?" Not, "Why did this woman try to raise a gorilla?" or, "Why did this woman dress chimpanzees in little outfits?" but rather, "Why was this movie released to the public?"If you want a rampaging gorilla movie, there's always any of the King Kong movies. If you want beautiful people, check out anything on MTV. If you want a fish out of water movie, check out any of thousands of other movies from roughly 1900 through today.