142. Lassie - A New Adventure; movie review

 

LASSIE - A NEW ADVENTURE

Cert PG

92 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent mild bad language, violence, dangerous behaviour

As kids, we all loved TV series featuring animals with human-like qualities.

Remember Skippy, the bush kangaroo; Flipper, the dolphin; Cheetah, the chimp in Tarzan; Clarence, the cross-eyed lion in Daktari; and of course, Lassie, the collie with a sixth sense to rescue those in danger? Since then, many heroic animals have emerged but the story of Lassie, if not the dogs who played her, has endured.

This latest version is more familiar with some dubbed programmes we watched in the summer holidays.

This time, English has replaced the original German as director Hanno Oldierssen follows up on the commercial success of 2020's Lassie Come Home.

Nico Marischka stars as Florian, who decides to stay with Lassie and his aunt (Katharina Schüttler) on her Tyrolean farm instead of going on vacation with his parents in Gran Canaria. 

She recently fostered two children, Kleo (Anna Lucia Gualano) and Henri (Pelle Staacken). Both are a tad unsure of their new surroundings but love her Jack Russell terrier, Pippa.

However, when Pippa goes missing in a town plagued by dog thefts, the humans must work with Lassie to save her and solve the crime. 

This Lassie adventure may please some children but I have to be honest and report that I found the acting and storyline stilted.

Indeed, it was akin to an elongated episode of a Children's BBC comedy.

There are slapstick moments that might prompt a giggle, but for the most part, the moral messages are too blunt, and the resolutions can be seen a long way off.

But, hey, it is Lssie, so it will undoubtedly find an audience.

Reasons to watch: It's a Lassie film

Reasons to avoid: Very twee

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 4/10

Did you know? Lassie first featured in a 1938 short story by Eric Knight that was later expanded to a 1940 full-length novel, Lassie Come-Home.

The final word.  Nico Marischka (plays Flo Maurer):" I only associate Lassie with positive things. My character sees Lassie as his best friend with whom he can talk about anything. A perfect complement to him and the perfect companion.

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