Bad Dog (2009 film)

Bad Dog is a 2009 live-action comedy film directed by Brian Levant and starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as the voice of Berkeley, the family dog. The film also stars Jon Heder, Nia Vardalos, Brooke Shields, Jason Lee, and David Spade.
The plot follows the Potanski family, who are struggling to keep their dog Berkeley under control. When they discover that he has a talent for acting, they decide to put him in a movie. However, when the movie's director (Spade) decides to cut Berkeley from the film, the family must find a way to get him back on screen.
== Plot ==
The Potanski family are struggling to keep their dog Berkeley under control. When they discover that he has a talent for acting, they decide to put him in a movie. However, when the movie's director (Spade) decides to cut Berkeley from the film, the family must find a way to get him back on screen.
== Casting ==
Cuba Gooding Jr. as Berkeley, the family dog
Jon Heder as Trevor Potanski, the eldest Potanski son
Nia Vardalos as Penelope Potanski, the Potanski daughter
Brooke Shields as Mrs. Potanski, the Potanski mother
Jason Lee as Mr. Potanski, the Potanski father
David Spade as the movie director
== Characters ==
Berkeley: The family dog who is voiced by Cuba Gooding Jr.
Jon Heder as Trevor Potanski: The eldest Potanski child.
Nia Vardalos as Penelope Potanski: The only Potanski daughter.
Brooke Shields as Mrs. Potanski: The mother of the Potanski children.
Jason Lee as Mr. Potanski: The father of the Potanski children.
David Spade as the director of the film that Berkeley is in.
== Soundtrack ==
The film's soundtrack was released on March 3, 2009, by Lakeshore Records. It features songs by various artists, including N.E.R.D, the Black Keys, and the Roots.
== Production ==
=== Development ===
Bad Dog was first announced in February 2008, with Brian Levant set to direct and Cuba Gooding Jr. attached to star as the voice of Berkeley. The film was set up at Fox 2000, with Levant and Gooding Jr. also serving as executive producers.
In May 2008, Jon Heder and Nia Vardalos joined the cast of the film, with Heder set to voice Trevor, the eldest Potanski child, and Vardalos set to voice Penelope, the Potanski's daughter.
The following month, Brooke Shields and Jason Lee signed on to voice the Potanski parents, with Shields set to voice Mrs. Potanski and Lee set to voice Mr. Potanski.
In July 2008, David Spade joined the cast of the film, voicing the director of the film that Berkeley is cast in.
=== Filming ===
Principal photography for Bad Dog began in July 2008 in Los Angeles.
=== Release ===
Bad Dog was originally set to be released on February 6, 2009, but was pushed back to March 27, 2009.
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 28, 2009.
=== Reception ===
Critical reception for Bad Dog was mixed.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 33%, based on 22 reviews, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The site's consensus reads, "Cuba Gooding Jr.'s energetic performance as the voice of Berkeley can't save this formulaic family comedy from being just another forgettable live-action/CGI hybrid."
On Metacritic, the film has a score of 45 out of 100, based on 9 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
=== Box office ===
Bad Dog was released in 2,511 theaters on March 27, 2009 and grossed $5,711,534 on its opening weekend, ranking #9 at the box office. The film went on to gross $12,856,937 in North America and $2,741,937 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $15,598,874.
== Visual-effects ==
The film's visual effects were provided by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and The Secret Lab.
Bad Dog was released in the United States on August 7, 2009.
== Marketing ==
The film's marketing campaign was focused on Gooding Jr.'s voice performance as Berkeley. The campaign included a series of television commercials in which Gooding Jr. would say various things in Berkeley's voice.
The film was released in the United States on August 7, 2009. It received mixed reviews from critics and was a box office bomb, grossing just $15 million against its $50 million budget.
== Home media ==
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on August 4, 2009.
== Categories ==
2009 films
American films
English-language films
Direct-to-video films
20th Century Fox direct-to-video films
Films about dogs
Films directed by Brian Levant
Category:2009 films
Category:Live-Action