The lovable, slobbering pooch Beethoven is absolutely adorable. The new Blu-ray edition of the 1992 movie Beethoven is stunning on a brand new HD master.

St. Bernards are fun-loving dogs and bring a lot of joy to their families. That is exactly what happens in the movie for the Newton family, with the exception of George (Charles Groden), the father. He is opposed to keeping the puppy that wondered into their home after escaping from dognappers. 

Alice (Bonnie Hunt) and their kids Ryce (Nicholle Tom), Ted (Christopher Castile), and Emily (Sarah Rose Karr) are instantly won over by the adorable pup and end up talking George into letting them keep him. They name him Beethoven.

As he grows, Beethoven causes a lot of havoc in the house, staining the carpets, scratching the walls, chewing George’s shoes, and eating everything. But he is definitely and firmly ensconced into the family. He has an uncanny sense of knowing when one of the kids needs help, and that is not only endearing, but also life-saving for Emily. 

While the Newtons deal with their own situations, there is a sinister gang dognapping pets throughout the town. Led by veterinarian Dr. Varnick (Dean Jones), they use the dogs for experimentation. This evil man has no conscience when it comes to mistreating the animals, even though he is a vet. His two henchmen (Stanley Tucci and Oliver Platt) do the dognapping while Varnick does the experimentation, which includes his new job of trying new ammunition on the animals. 

That is the situation in this little town. 

While Beethoven saves Emily, helps Ted fend off bullies, plays match-maker for Ryce with her school crush, and even saves George from losing his company, his antics and expressions win the hearts of viewers of all ages. St. Bernards are cute and expressive, and Beethoven is the ultimate example of this. Viewers will undoubtedly want to add one to their own family, however people need to understand the requirements of adopting a St. Bernard.

This is a cute show but there are scenes of potential peril, so keep that in mind when showing this to sensitive kids. Beethoven is rated PG for this reason. The ending is a happy one, with George turning into  Beethoven’s biggest fan.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.