For the Love of Benji

1977 "The world's most huggable hero!"
5.9| 1h25m| G| en
Details

Benji gets lost after a flight overseas and becomes a stray in Athens, Greece. He then tries everyday to reunite with his family while mysterious people pursue him, in a race to get a code which was secretly tattooed on his paw at the airport. But who are the bad guys and who are the agents that can be trusted? Will Benji and his kids and their nanny ever get to enjoy their vacation?

Director

Producted By

Mulberry Square Productions

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Reviews

Jeanskynebu the audience applauded
Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.
Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.
Arianna Moses 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.
Scott LeBrun "Benjean", a.k.a. "Benji", carries on the tradition established by her father Higgins for the original family classic that bore the "Benji" name. This time, the adorable canine is going on a vacation in Greece with her young masters Cindy and Paul (Cynthia Smith and Allen Fiuzat) and their housekeeper Mary (Patsy Garrett). (The father is supposed to be joining them in a weeks' time.) However, a sly secret agent (guest star Ed Nelson) grabs Benjis' carrier before it can be loaded onto the plane, and tattoos a formula onto the dogs' paw. Then, everybody's plans go awry when Benji (and his female companion Tiffany) miss a connecting flight. Benji ends up scampering all over Greece as characters try to locate him and then hold on to him."For the Love of Benji" does travel far on the winning personality of the little canine star, who, like her dad, is able to express emotions quite well. The plot is a little more "grown up" than in the first film, with even higher stakes, and there are moments that may be unpleasant for younger viewers. (Like seeing Benji immobilized with chloroform.) The exotic locale does add a lot to the experience, and although the abundance of Greek dialogue is not subtitled, you'll find that it's not that necessary. You can still get the gist of what people are saying. The film is never more engaging than when it follows little Benjean and her many adventures. She makes a friend in a bigger dog (an obvious stray), who is endeared to her when she shares some purloined meat with them. And later, this dog character is paid off when a Doberman is pursuing Benjean and this other dog comes to the rescue.The human cast is just fine, with Nelson never coming off as too intimidating for younger kids. However, they'll instinctively understand, seeing him through Benjis' eyes, that he's a bad man. Returning actors Garrett, Smith, and Fiuzat are appealing, but they are not a big part of the story this time around. Art Vasil, Peter Bowles, and Bridget Armstrong are solid in supporting roles.Likeable, well-paced, action-packed family fare punctuated by one of those irresistibly cute, precious wrap-ups certain to have viewers sobbing into their hankies.Followed by "Oh, Heavenly Dog!" in 1980.Seven out of 10.
filmflakfluke Gore Vidal's "For The Love Of Benji" takes us on what should have been an energetic romp through the eyes of a lovable cocker spaniel with the heart of a freeze-dried artichoke. Instead, what we get is a thinly-disguised rant on the oppression visited upon our four-legged friends by corrupt politicians, corporate CEOs, and alien sex predators. PETA take note! Not since "Myra Breckenridge" has Raquel Welch been so radiant and yet so absent from the screen. Interestingly enough, Tom Cruise does NOT appear in this film either. The film score, however, is reminiscent of "Ears Wide Shut", the film Kubrick would have made if cameras had been unavailable.
megawhoosits This movie uses the same plot devices and cinematography as the first one, but it has a lot of long, pointless sequences that make it drag on. The first one had a lot of action/reaction on the part of the dog, in part because the dog was more aware of what was going on. In this one, Benji is part of an intricate plot that not even the audience understands until the end. Obviously Benji acts in ways natural to a dog in a strange place, but he doesn't get much chance for heroics until the very end. All in all, I still like this film, but I just don't like it as much as the original.
Kimta This is the ultimate family movie!! Benji, Super Dog extraordinaire, makes a howling appearance in this Ameri/Greek movie.The family goes to vacation with their two dogs in Greece. Along the way, Benji gets implanted with a secret code by the evil Chandler Dietrich. Chandler befriends the family knowing that, without their trust and friendship, he won't be able to smuggle Benji away from them at the right time. What Chandler doesn't plan on is Benji getting lost en-route to Crete!!Anyway, the film goes on sharing the antics of this tiny little dog-without-a-breed and casts him as a hero. To find out what happens to Benji and his adorable family, you'll just have to watch!Benji movies are so much fun for children. If you have a pet in the family, whether a dog, cat, bird or hamster, your children are guaranteed to appreciate them more after seeing this film. There is no nudity, no hard-core language (in fact no swearing at all that I can remember), no violence, and no yucky stuff. It is a class A children's movie. Enjoy it with some popcorn and with Fido sitting close at hand!!

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