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Benji - Off the Leash (2004)

tomatometer

31

Average Rating: 5/10
Critic Reviews: 16
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 11

No consensus yet.

audience

58

liked it
Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 1,684

My Rating

Movie Info

Directed by Joe Camp, Benji: Off the Leash! follows the plight of three underdogs: Benji, who is literally a dog; the funny but none-too-bright Sheldon; and Colby, a 14-year-old facing some real problems. The unlikely trio is brought together by the nefarious efforts of an ill-intentioned puppy breeder who wants to use Benji's mother in an irresponsible backyard puppy mill. The film serves as a prequel of sorts to the Benji franchise, and features Chris Kendrick, Nick Whitaker, Duane Stephens,

PG, 1 hr. 39 min.

Drama, Kids & Family

Joe Camp

Dec 28, 2004

$3.6M

Mulberry Square Releasing

Cast

All Critics (49) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (29)

A mildly pleasant, aggressively retro kidpic that should please undemanding moppets without unduly boring their parents.

August 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

All the Benji productions have had a high corn content, but in this one, even the corn is cheap.

August 20, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Daily News | Comment
New York Daily News
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The overall unevenness of tone is the movie's biggest flaw, but the slo-mo scenes of doggie derring-do are quite funny, and the message about how to treat both humans and animals evergreen.

August 20, 2004 Full Review Source: Washington Post | Comment
Washington Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Parents ... are more likely to experience the film as a blend of clumsy slapstick and mind-numbing bathos.

August 20, 2004 Full Review Source: Orlando Sentinel | Comment
Orlando Sentinel
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Long before the happy ending arrives, even the most dedicated dog lover will have ceased to care.

August 20, 2004 Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | Comment
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It all plays very much like an extremely drawn-out episode of Lassie updated with references to child, spousal and dog abuse.

August 20, 2004 Comment
New York Post
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Charming movie featuring an adorable dog.

October 14, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | Comment
Common Sense Media

Lacks creativity. The first Benji was original, and each new sequel needs to be a new creation. Instead, we get the same Benji formula.

November 1, 2006 Comment

Horrible, loathsome, incompetent, wretched. The worst movie of the year? Undoubtedly.

December 26, 2004 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | Comment (1)
eFilmCritic.com

...nothing in this boring and inept movie is salvageable.

September 4, 2004 Full Review | Comment
Talking Pictures (U.S.)

The movie is so earnest and sweet that to criticize it harshly would be like kicking a dog, and far be it from me to go there.

August 24, 2004 Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | Comment
EricDSnider.com

A fun and frolicsome adventure for the entire family.

August 24, 2004 Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | Comment
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

This is by far the best of the Benji films, with appeal to both adults and kids alike.

August 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | Comment

Good intentions aside, the return of writer-director-producer Joe Camp's "Benji" is terminally boring.

August 23, 2004 Comment

Families in search of a happy ending will have to hope that the next Benji movie is "Benji Finds a Better Script."

August 22, 2004 Comment
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

Doggone it, I have to give this a better-than-average rating.

August 22, 2004 Full Review | Comment
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

A family drama, and public-service announcement for your local animal shelter, that is more convincing when the four-legged performers have the screen to themselves.

August 20, 2004 Full Review Source: Salt Lake Tribune | Comment
Salt Lake Tribune
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Benji - Off the Leash

Really bad acting. It was kind of annoying to watch.

February 13, 2011
trisarahtops22

Super Reviewer

Forced to watch, but it turned out to be enjoyable. Nice subplot with puppy mill.

May 29, 2008
threefolddado

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Benji Off the Leash! (DE)
  • Benji Off the Leash! (UK)
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