ODDBALL AND THE PENGUINS
Cert U
96 mins
BBFC advice: Contains infrequent very mild bad language, threat, slapstick violence
Oddball and The Penguins prompted the fond memory of those family films which are rare at the cinema nowadays.
Charming, quite funny and, surprisingly, based on a true story, it is the type of movie which could not offend anyone.
But while Stuart McDonald's picture was never going to threaten the Oscars, it will please many of those who choose it as part of their half-term entertainment.
After all, it would take a very hard heart which repelled a film which stars a fluffy dog, a wide-eyed young girl (Coco Jack Gillies) and some endangered penguins.
Oddball is the dog in question and has a reputation in the seaside Australian town of Warrnambool for being rather too exuberant.
Therefore, his owner (Shane Jacobson) is forced to keep him under effective house arrest.
At the same time, a nearby island's penguin colony is on the verge of extinction because of fox attacks, causing consternation for Oddball's owner and his daughter (Sarah Snook) who have long history of caring for the cute birds.
The colony is on the cusp of having its conservation status removed by the local council and all seems lost but Oddball might provide an unlikely solution.
McDonald's movie is unashamedly aimed at children, painting clear heroes (dogs, penguins and conservationists) and villains (foxes and councillors).
It is undeniably schmaltzy but I doubt many audience members will leave without a smile.
Reasons to watch: heartwarming true story
Reasons to avoid: the added layer of cheese
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: only the penguins and the dogs
Overall rating: 6.5/10
Star tweet
Shane Jacobson I'm going on the Today show at 7.45 this morning with Kai the dog from the movie Oddball, I will be the one without the white fluffy hair.