Lassie (2005)
Movie Review
As a fan of all things Lassie, I was very disappointed in the 2005 remake of a much loved classic, Lassie Come Home. Perhaps it is unfair to compare it to the original movie of 1943, but one cannot help but do that when it is listed as a remake of that wonderful film.
I’ll begin with the things about the movie that I did like, which, unfortunately, are not many. The dog portraying Lassie, Mason, is a beautiful collie. Also, the location shots were beautiful. This concludes my list of things that I liked. As I stated, the list would be short.
My list of things that I was unhappy with is much longer.
-Bad character development. The writer did not do a good job of developing character depth. One does not get a sense of the love that Joe Carraclough felt for Lassie. His goodbye scene with Lassie does not bring tears to the eyes like the original with Roddy McDowall. The feeling between them is flat and emotionless. Likewise, there is no real feeling between the Duke and his granddaughter.
-The appearance of the Loch Ness Monster. This is the most ludicrous thing to ever put in a Lassie movie. Other than the location of the movie, the Monster has nothing to do with the storyline and is a ridiculous addition. It totally takes away from any feeling building as Lassie journeys home.
-The collie portraying Lassie was not a Weatherwax line Lassie. This is the first Lassie movie made without a Weatherwax line dog, and it tells in the whole movie. While Mason, the collie, did as good a job as he could, he was not Weatherwax trained and did not have the warmth and love that we are used to when we watch Lassie on TV or in the movies.
My hope is that if another Lassie movie is made, another writer will be used who will bring Lassie back to the beauty and glory that is the Lassie that we know and love.
This review is the opinion of Colliehaven Ventures, LLC only. Please watch the movie and decide for yourself.
