One has to wonder when a cute idea might have been taken too far. When “Air Bud” came out in 1997, it told a simple story of a dog that could play basketball. Unbelievable… yes, cute…. Yes, but what really made the movie work was the relationship between a boy and his dog and the simple overcoming of loneliness that a good pet can help with. There were later films based on its success, but none of them really matched up to the original. Once the creators of the series ran out of ideas, they took the formula a step further and “Air Buddies” were born. Here we had adorable little Golden Retriever puppies whose lips moved (through the magic of CGI) and suddenly they could talk. A cute idea that only worked because there was so much human – dog interaction.

Again we have another series where the puppies end up in the snow, and if you can believe it… outer space. Disney’s newest installment “”Santa Buddies” moves our little furry friends to the North Pole.

The previous films were cute (there’s that word again) and despite the simplistic and silly writing I was able to enjoy them with my daughter. She adores them so I could watch and forgive as long as she was getting a kick out of them. (Of course, it wasn’t like I didn’t like them, too…) This time around I’m not entirely sure. My daughter is six and she thought the film was… cute (!!!), but I could tell she wasn’t as into as previous outings. It wasn’t bad, after all the costumes and sets were all gorgeous, and the pups were as cute (!!!!!) as ever. But there just seemed to be something lacking, like the writers were trying too hard to come up with a complex storyline about Christmas.

The Bluray release offers a gorgeous transfer, which really enhances the very colorful look of the film. There aren’t really any special features beyond a music video and a Christmas Carol sing-along. This release also includes a second disc with the movie (and features on DVD), for which I always applaud the inclusion.

“Santa Buddies” is definitely the weakest of the entries so far. Still, really, really young children will no doubt enjoy the film. But as they get to the 5-6 year old range they may find it a little harder to buy into the whole fantasy of it.

Directed by: Robert Vince
Starring: Christopher Lloyd, George Wendt, Tom Bosley, Tim Conway, Danny Woodburn
Extras: Sing-Along to Christmas Carols with the Buddies; “Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" music video
Specifications: 1080p (1.78:1), English DTS-HD Hi-Res Audio 5.1 Surround
Studio: Disney
Release Date: 11/24/2009
MPAA Rating: G
http://www.DisneyBluray.com

We'll give Santa Buddies (Bluray) a C+.