Beethoven (film)
| Beethoven | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Brian Levant |
| Written by | John Hughes Amy Holden Jones |
| Produced by | Joe Medjuck Michael C. Gross Ivan Reitman |
| Starring | Charles Grodin Bonnie Hunt Dean Jones |
| Cinematography | Victor J. Kemper |
| Edited by | William D. Gordean Sheldon Kahn |
| Music by | Randy Edelman Michael Tavera |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $57,114,049 |
Beethoven is a 1992 American family comedy film, directed by Brian Levant and starring Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt. The film is the first in the Beethoven film series.
It was written by John Hughes (under the pseudonym Edmond Dantès) and Amy Holden Jones. The story centers on a St. Bernard dog named after the composer Ludwig van Beethoven owned by the Newton family and co-stars Nicholle Tom, Christopher Castile, Sarah Rose Karr, Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt and Dean Jones.
Plot
When the film opens, a St. Bernard puppy and a large group of other puppies are stolen from a pet shop by two thieves. After meeting a Jack Russell Terrier during his escape from the thieves, the St. Bernard sneaks into the home of the Newton family. The father, George Newton, doesn't want the responsibility of owning a dog, but his wife, Alice, and their children convince him otherwise. While trying to name their new-found dog, the youngest daughter, Emily, plays a portion of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and the puppy barks along; the family thus names him "Beethoven."
While George focuses on Beethoven's negative qualities, the rest of the family grows attached to Beethoven. He helps the children overcome their problems in various ways; he frightens bullies that are bothering Ted, helps the eldest girl, Ryce, talk to her crush, and saves Emily's life when she falls in the irresponsible babysitter's swimming pool. However, George becomes increasingly jealous of the affection Beethoven receives, feeling as though he is being neglected as the family fawns over Beethoven. His frustration comes to a head when Beethoven's antics ruin a barbecue George is hosting for Brad and Brie, venture capitalists looking to invest in his car freshener firm.
The family takes Beethoven to a local veterinarian, Herman Varnick, for a routine medical examination and immunizations. The family is unaware that Varnick is involved in unethical and deadly animal experimentation and hired the two thieves seen in the opening sequence. He urges the family to leave him overnight at the clinic, but they refuse. Varnick speaks to George alone and tells him of a supposed mental instability among St. Bernard dogs making them potentially dangerous to humans and advises George to watch Beethoven closely for any sign of viciousness. In truth, Varnick requires large-skulled dogs such as St. Bernards for an ammunition test.
Varnick later visits the Newton home under the guise of doing a follow-up exam on Beethoven. He stages an "attack" by Beethoven using fake blood, claiming that Beethoven bit his arm. Varnick says Beethoven must be euthanized or he will press charges. Emily, who saw Varnick hit Beethoven, protests that the attack was fake, but George, fearing for his family's safety, takes Beethoven to Varnick's office. It is here that George discovers his own affections for Beethoven, He remembers when he was a child, that his father took their family dog to the vets to be euthanized and he never forgave him for it, thus explaining his reluctance to keep a pet dog.
Later, after recognizing Emily's sadness and having a conversation with Alice, George has a change of heart. The family goes to Varnick's office to investigate the incident further. Varnick claims that Beethoven has already been euthanized. In the ensuing debacle it is revealed that Varnick has no bite marks and that the attack was faked. Following a lack of police intervention, the family decides to follow Varnick to his secret animal testing facility. George tails Varnick's Porsche while Alice calls the police. As George closes in, Beethoven breaks free but is recaptured by the thieves. George crashes through the facility skylight just as Varnick prepares to shoot Beethoven. While George and Beethoven battle Varnick's two henchman, Ted then drives the car into the building, launching numerous syringes into Varnick, sedating him. As the Newtons free all the captive dogs, Ted notice's Varnick's two dog thieves trying to escape, and he sends the herd of angry dogs after them. The thieves escape into a junkyard, only to be viciously maimed by a pack of Dobermans.
Dr. Varnick and his accomplices are arrested and Varnick is indicted for his crimes. The Newtons are praised as heroes by the news and George takes a new liking to Beethoven. Ryce also gets a phone call from her crush Mark, much to her excitement. The Newtons then go to sleep, saying good night to Beethoven and all of the dogs they rescued.
Cast
- Charles Grodin as George Newton
- Bonnie Hunt as Alice Newton
- Nicholle Tom as Ryce Newton
- Christopher Castile as Ted Newton
- Sarah Rose Karr as Emily Newton
- Dean Jones as Dr. Herman Varnick
- David Duchovny as Brad
- Patricia Heaton as Brie
- Chris as Beethoven
- Oliver Platt as Harvey (Dognapper #1)
- Stanley Tucci as Vernon (Dognapper # 2)
- Laurel Cronin as Devonia Pest
- Nancy Fish as Miss Grundel
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Young Student
Reception
The movie did well enough at the box office to inspire the making of a sequel. It has a 32% Tomatometer rating and a 51% User rating from Rotten Tomatoes. Australian Dog Sonny Cooper was named as a replacement if a sequel came to shore.
Sequels and spinoffs
The film was followed by five sequels. Beethoven's 2nd was released to theaters in 1993. The remaining sequels were direct-to-video films: Beethoven's 3rd (2000), Beethoven's 4th (2001), Beethoven's 5th (2003), Beethoven's Big Break (2008), and Beethoven Saves Christmas (2011 - currently filming). An animated TV series was also created around the films that debuted in 1993. Dean Jones voiced the role of George Newton in this series after playing the villain in the film.
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