Lassie (DVD)

...to his Scottish estate. But Lassie will go to any lengths to be reunited with her beloved boy, even if it means walking all the way from Scotland, running into obstacles at every turn.

Whenever I think of Lassie I am reminded of the TV show I saw as a child, so I always assumed the character was American. However, the original book was written by British ex-pat Eric Knight while pining for the wilds of Yorkshire in sunny California. ...
...rejected by her son after Lassie is sold. John Lynch is suitably warm and paternal as the boy's father but is only given enough screen-time to leave a vague impression on the viewer.

Steve Pemberton from "The League of Gentlemen" plays the brillantined bad guy Hynes with glee. As soon as you see him, you know he's bad and want him to get his come-uppance. He practically oozes slime. He's a rather two-dimensional character, ... more

When the local pit in a Yorkshire mining village closes, Lassie's owners have no choice but to sell their dog to the local landowner. Then the Duke takes her away to his Scottish estate. But Lassie will go to any lengths to be reunited with her beloved boy, even if it means walking all the way from Scotland, running into obstacles at every turn.

Whenever I think of Lassie I am reminded of the TV show I saw as a child, so I always assumed the character was American. However, the original book was written by British ex-pat Eric Knight while pining for the wilds of Yorkshire in sunny California. So this new version is bringing Lassie home for real. Well, sort of seeing as the majority was shot in the Isle of Man and Ireland. Writer-director Charles Sturridge has breathed new life into an old favourite but without deviating from the original story. It remains steadfastly rooted in the late 1930s, which may feel anachronistic but suits the mood of the piece well. It's a timeless tale of the love between a boy and his dog. The director has obvious affection for his canine star and furry friends as the abundance of close-ups attests. Sturridge has an appreciation for the variety of landscapes available and makes a few anonymous woods and heaths feel like epic vistas in his use of framing and aerial photography. He also uses montages of Lassie's continuing journey to suggest the length of her travels, the breadth of her experiences and her sheer perseverance. It can make the film feel episodic at times but it keeps the movie short enough to stop the kids squirming in their seats. As a result the pacing is brisk and all of Lassie's mini-adventures are interlinked with examples of how much her child friends are missing her and how her presence has affected others' lives. Her journey is plotted on a map of the UK, in Indiana Jones style. This helps to place it squarely in the adventure genre and moves the action on quickly whilst maintaining a sense of continuity. It's a good family film that will keep young and old engaged throughout.

Sturridge's screenplay is a relatively simple affair, that works because of its' simplicity. I was expecting an incredibly mawkish children's film that tries to imprint human emotions onto animals. So I was surprised to find myself being sucked into this strangely compelling shaggy dog story. It's presented almost in a quest format. First we see our heroine in her natural habitat, amongst those she loves. Then fate (or in this case economics) intervenes and takes her to a far away land. After which she must overcome apparently unending trials in her attempts to regain her lost love. The fact that the heroine happens to be a dog is almost by-the-by. There's no attempt to humanise the canine superstar by suggesting her drive to get home is anything more than instinct. It's the reactions she provokes in people that add human interest to the story. Some of the episodes are romantic (like the couple who meet thanks to Lassie), some funny (the Glaswegian dog catchers chase sequence) and others rather touching (the travelling showman). They all work because they have a beginning, a middle and an end and enough thrills and spills to keep the kids happy. There are also a few laughs thrown in to stop it being too earnest and this makes it all the more endearing. Though this is a kids' film, some more adult themes are touched on. A social context is added by juxtaposing the rich and poor. But though the rich have big houses and flash cars, the film is adamant that some things can't be bought (namely love and wilful dogs). Unemployment, war and death are all dealt with, but are seen from a child's perspective as big, almost abstract concepts with concrete outcomes but no clear cause. Some of the dialogue may surprise grown-ups because one or two swear-words sneak in, but it fits the context of the story. And you may want to check how many puppies appear at the end because the script and reality don't seem to tally.

Last of the British hell-raisers, Peter O'Toole is the ideal choice to play the duke that buys Lassie. Though outwardly gruff, he gives the impression his bark is worse than his bite. The old hand is clearly enjoying himself, especially when having a go at his animal handler; then you can see a wicked gleam in his eye. But underneath it all he's really a teddy bear. He may be stern with his grand-daughter but he's always fair and like most tweed-clad country gents, he's a great animal lover. It's just that he's set in his ways. I get the impression he's not so far removed from the real Peter O'Toole, having a whale of a time, getting what he wants and always keeping face.

Jonathan Mason, who plays Joe gives a lovely, unaffected performance; you really believe in his love for the dog and his grief at losing her. He has a wonderfully expressive face and his eyes in particular are able to convey a wide range of emotions. He also manages to hold his own opposite established names. His female counter part, played by Hester Odgers is a more stereotypical stage school child; photogenic, slightly posh and very sure of herself. But her self-importance works well for the part of upper-class Priscilla, born with a sense of entitlement.

Samantha Morton plays Joe's mother as a strong woman downtrodden by circumstance, but still possessing an inner spark. It's an affecting performance that shows her falling apart as she tries desperately to keep her family together. It's heartrending to watch her being rejected by her son after Lassie is sold. John Lynch is suitably warm and paternal as the boy's father but is only given enough screen-time to leave a vague impression on the viewer.

Steve Pemberton from "The League of Gentlemen" plays the brillantined bad guy Hynes with glee. As soon as you see him, you know he's bad and want him to get his come-uppance. He practically oozes slime. He's a rather two-dimensional character, so Pemberton plays him in panto villain style; all bulging eyes and snarling speech. Though simplistic, his performance is nonetheless effective and it will have the audience booing him.

Star of "The Station Agent", Peter Dinklage is warm and engaging as the showman that takes care of the collie for a time. He copes reasonably well with his Irish accent and has a lovely rapport with his canine co-stars. It's a nice performance as a lonely and introverted man.

Some big names in British acting prove the pup's enduring popularity by taking small supporting roles. Gregor Fisher is on fine comic form as a jobsworth dog-catcher. Kelly MacDonald is sweet as the girl that tries to save Lassie from the dog pound. Nicholas Lyndhurst plays against type as a nasty poacher. Robert Hardy shows great comic timing as a judge and Edward Fox is surprisingly funny as a distracted monster hunter.

The three dogs playing Lassie are remarkably well-trained. They can do any number of tricks, including burrowing under a fence, leaping over one and following specific path. They can limp or look agitated, attack on command and run like the wind. When several behaviours are edited together, this gives the impression of boundless intelligence. Though some things Lassie does are unusual, it is only where she does that makes them so. So you shouldn't have any concerns about unnatural behaviours being foisted onto the animals. The canine actors all look happy, healthy and well-groomed.

The score by Adrian Johnston adds to Lassie's status as legend by giving her a big orchestral soundtrack. The foreboding kettle drums, heartfelt Celtic pipes and exciting string motifs backed by pounding drums are suitable accompaniments to the sweeping vistas of the film. You can almost trace Lassie's journey solely through the music as Scottish bagpipes give way to leaping flutes as she gets closer to home.

"Lassie" is a new take on an old favourite that will keep families entertained for the full hour and forty-minute running-time. It's nice to see a kid-friendly story that doesn't rely on big special effects or superheroes to keep children hooked. It may be old-fashioned, but it is warm, endearing and solidly written and directed. It may not be original but is always heartfelt and engaging. If your little folk are animal mad, this is definitely a movie that will appeal.
 

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