Rock Dog 2

***Rock Dog 2: Rock Around the Park*** (*摇滚藏獒：蓝色光芒*) is a 2021 Chinese-American direct-to-video rock musical comedy film. It is the sequel to the 2016 film *Rock Dog*. The film was directed by Mark Baldo and written by Alec Sokolow. None of the original cast returned from the first film. It was released for digital download on July 11, 2021, and later released for Blu-Ray and DVD on July 15.

A sequel titled, *Rock Dog 3: Battle the Beat*, is set to be released on January 24, 2023, with Align, GFM Animation and Shanghai Film Animation (formerly known as Mandoo Pictures) co-producing.

## Synopsis

One year after the events of the first film, Bodi and his friends Darma and Germur, have formed their own rock band "True Blue" at Snow Mountain, Bodi's idol Angus Scattergood has returned to England to spend more time with his mother, and his arch-nemesis Linnux returns to seek his revenge. The sheep villagers and most of the wolves, formerly from Linnux's pack, have taken up residence and are huge fans of True Blue, including a pair of teenage red pandas named Wei and Shumai. Bodi's biggest fan is his father Khampa.

Meanwhile in the City, life goes on at Rock n' Roll Park, until Riff and Skozz, former wolf pack members turned police officers, arrive with a demolition crew and a city ordinance. Upon noticing that the ordinance has yet to be passed, the parkgoers form a protest. Observing the conflict is sheep music mogul Lang, who has hired Trey to assist in a sinister plan to stir up the parkgoers into disorder so he arrange a benefits concert to save the park, attracting musicians everywhere. He then orders Otto, a German wolf scientist, to finish a crossroads recording booth as part of his plan. Lang also watches media uploads of Bodi's performances and his blue energy wave as being prominent.

The next morning, Bodi awakens from a dream of him saving the world with his music, but cannot remember the inspirational musical riff, but is assured that it will return in time. They share breakfast with Khampa's recently arrived parents Norbu and Maydow, who value tradition and not forgetting who they are. Fleetwood Yak then arrives to inform everyone of a monument for True Blue being built in the village. Lang soon arrives at Snow Mountain, inviting True Blue to go on tour with pop star sensation Lil' Foxy. While Bodi is excited at the opportunity for the world to hear his music, Khampa is highly suspicious of Lang and his motives, but allows Bodi to accept and reminds him to stay true to himself. As Bodi and his friends depart, Germur accidentally drops his keychain, which is placed on Bodi's monument, starting a disturbing trend. Wei and Shumai also come to the City as prominent fan-support.

In the City, Bodi and his friends are met by Lang, who arrives in Mr. Scattergood's tour bus with Ozzie, as a favor owed. While Bodi and Darma have initial objections, the tour bus is given a new paint job. Lil' Foxy then arrives and Bodi is dazzled. Despite a rough start, True Blue quickly rises in popularity, sharing the spotlight with Lil' Foxy, but the fame soon starts to exhaust Bodi and his friends.

Upon arriving at Rock n' Roll Park, True Blue observes the protest and Lang's announcement to prevent the demolition from continuing. Bodi is then called away by Lang. Unknown to him, however, is that Lang is really Linnux in disguise. Resuming his identity of Lang, he encourages Bodi to change his name and image, citing Lil' Foxy as an example as how she achieved fame and fortune. Bodi visits Lil' Foxy and learns about her daily life, learning that her real name is Frances, and begins to bond with her.

Bodi decides to change his name and image to make it big, much to Darma and Germur's displeasure, which forms a rift between them and Bodi as he continues to lose his personal image to fit in with popularity. Snow Mountain is also losing its sense of self when Khampa brings tourists, though his parents are divided about the decision of tradition versus living dreams. After a fierce argument, Darma and Germur split from Bodi, severing True Blue.

Lang then introduces Bodi to the crossroads recording booth, which has the ability to absorb Bodi's blue energy, creating a dark storm outside the City, while Snow Mountain is buried in an avalanche. Khampa is the only supposed casualty.

When Bodi recovers, Lang reveals his intent to steal Bodi's powers and then has him thrown out, where he is also disfellowshipped by Wei and Shumai. Lang is empowered, manifested in a green energy, and throws Lil' Foxy out, as well. Alone and broken, Bodi soon encounters Ozzy, who arrives to inform him of Snow Mountain's destruction. Immediately returning home, Bodi reunites with his grandparents, Khampa was found to have survived, and Bodi burst to tears. Having learned from their mistakes, Bodi and Khampa regain their sense of self and Bodi's "fire" is restored when he recognizes the world-saving riff from his dream as an early childhood melody played by his grandfather. Bodi returns to the City to confront Lang.

At Rock n' Roll Park, the benefits concert begins with Darma and Germur on stage, only for Lang to start playing his music, unleashing a green energy wave that seals everyone inside the park and hypnotizing them into mindless zombies. As Bodi arrives and meets up with Lil' Foxy, Wei and Shumai also arrive to make amends. Bodi and Lil' Foxy are assisted by Ozzie into the park, where they face Lang, who unmasks himself as Linnux. Wei and Shumai throw Bodi's guitar to him, starting an energy shred-off against Linnux. Bodi is momentarily overwhelmed by Linnux's green energy, but Lil' Foxy quickly snaps him out of it with his personal guitar pick and he frees Darma and Germur of Linnux's trance, who join him and Lil' Foxy against Linnux, defeating him and sending him flying out of the park, freeing everyone of his hypnotic control. The blue energy soars to Snow Mountain and restores the village.

Bodi apologizes to Darma and Germur, who forgive him and True Blue is restored, with Lil' Foxy joining. They host a concert together at the park, with Khampa, his parents, and everyone from Snow Mountain sharing in the celebration. The film closes with Bodi releasing another blue energy wave.

## Cast

* Graham Hamilton as Bodi
* Brian Drummond as Khampa/Otto
* Ashleigh Ball as Darma
* Andrew Francis as Germur
* Kathleen Barr as Lil' Foxy
* Jason Simpson as Lang/Linnux
* Sabrina Pitre as Wei
* James Higuchi as Shumai
* Cathy Weseluck as Maydow
* Richard Newman as Norbu
* Brian Dobson as Fleetwood Yak/Heavy Metal Pig
* Donny Lucas as Riff
* Michael Adamthwaite as Carl/Trey

## Notes

1. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11207240/releaseinfo?ref\_=ttfc\_ql\_2
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock\_Dog#Sequels