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Cute little family film

As far as family films go, this is definatly a movie for them. If you are watching "Beethoven" on your own, you won't find anything special. Basic plot of there a villians trying to kidnap dogs to do illegal experimental tests. One of the puppies escape the villians. The puppy runs to a home with a dad who refuses to have pets. But when his children beg and beg, he lets them have the puppy they name "Beethoven". The main villian comes back to get the puppy once again. But will the father save the dog he hates in time? You'll have to find out. :-DNot my type of movie, but show it to your kids or family.4/10

Awfully dumb villains

I guess people who own big dogs will especially like this movie. It's charming at a certain level and painful to watch in some areas. Especially Charles Grodin maintaining Beethoven's body sanitation and the drool he must endure.The villains are the dumbest of the bunch. If they really want to test their gun, I hear you can legally acquire a cadaver for that purpose. If not, it's still very easy to measure whatever "killing power" the gun has.The verdict: 2.5 of 5 stars.

Whatever happened to Nicholle Tom?

I loved Beethoven when I was young - so much so, I went around naming my Barbie dolls 'Ryce'! I thought it was the coolest name ever, and it brought a smile to my face when I watched it today, brought back some good memories.

Beethoven is just a feel good movie. A big lovable dog, who you just want to cuddle the entire time, even if you did get drooled on. Just don't show to very young kids, cos you know what will happen! Thankfully I don't have that problem, just my mum oohing and aahing over Beethoven! The only minor quibble I have with the movie is that I can easily see Chevy Chase or Steve Martin in the role of the dad, played by Charles Grodin. Either of those two could have played that role, and dare I say it slightly better.

But whatever happened to the gorgeous Nicholle Tom? She wasn't the best actress but she was great in the Beethoven movies (but the other two kids were definitely NOT), but she seems to have virtually disappeared from the movie world, and into made for TV movies. Which is a shame.

Beethoven is the perfect afternoon movie of just chilling, when everyone else it out, and there's no need to feel embarrassed.

Playing It Safe

Not a very innovative story, not much new here. Overall, it's pretty bland, but they stuck with a formula that works. Music by Randy Edelman, he of the worthy GETTYSBURG score of a year later.Beethoven dominates the screen, so much so that you don't really get to know the human characters very well, and one feels somewhat disconnected from them. Surprising to see Dean Jones playing a bad guy.For the most part, this is a gentle, inoffensive story. It got a little gross sometimes with Beethoven slobbering all over everything and urinating in George's briefcase, but I guess that's just kid humor of the nineties. I still don't know why they had to name him Beethoven. Just because he barked when she played BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH on the piano? Maybe he was trying to tell her something. Like don't give up her day job.Overall, bland, but not bad. 6 out of 10.

Good Boy!- Good Movie!

This was one of my favorite movies as a kid and now even as an adult I see all the magic that made me enjoy it when I was younger. After watching this movie even the person in your family who is not an animal lover will want to go out and adopt a St.Bernard!


It starts when Beethoven is just a puppy by narrowingly escaping a pet store robbery Beethoven wanders the streets until he enters the lives of the Newton family. After Emily Newton the youngest member of the clan awakes in the morning to see a cute little fluffy St. Bernard puppy in her bed "I dreamt I had a puppy and my dream came true." George and Alice Newton are besides themselves on what to do with the dog- they can't keep it is George's first reaction. It will ruin the yard, destroy the house, it will grow to be enormous, and then it will die and we'll have to replace it and start the whole process all over again. Well George despite, being an a non-dog person decides to keep it for the sake of the kids "It's just temporary" he says. But, soon Beethoven the lovable St.Bernard becomes a member of the family- dealing with all childhood crisises from bullies and to first crushes- as this happens he also gets REALLLY big creating huge messes that George Newton reluctantly puts up with! Well, Beethoven is a very special dog with a remarkable love for his family sensing danger for the Newtons from saving George from the finical ruin of his company to the near death drowning of little Emily. But, suddenly Beethoven finds himself in the grips of an villianious vet who wants to use him to test out a new gun anumition on- only problem is the Newton family isn't going to give Beethoven up with out a fight! Even George loves the creature now.

This movie made my eleven year old host sister roll over on the floor with laughter. And seeing it made me want to go out and adopt a St.Bernard puppy. Charles Gordin is HILLAROUS as the anti-dog loving George in this movie his facial expressions and tone of voice reminded me of my dad's dealings with our family pet. Charles Gordin totally carries this movie. The animals also make this flick really endearing-

All in all this is a movie to rent or buy to watch with your kids over and over again! The perfect choice for family movie night.

An enjoyable family movie SPOILERS

I love Beethoven, because I love dogs.Beethoven is about a little girl who dreamed about a puppy and it came true!But the puppy grows up in to a big dog.A big, slobbering Saint Bernard. The father doesn't like Beethoven, and tries to get rid of him. Plus there's a evil veterinarian that wants to kill Beethoven. Unfortuanley the evil veterinarian puts fake blood on Beethoven and himself. Then the father wants to kill him for him attacking him. The veterinarian keeps Beethoven in a hideout where his cronies are about to perform tests on him. The father luckily saves the day. This is a lovable family movie that any dog-lover should enjoy.

A Movie For All Ages

This movie is fun for viewers of all ages. There are a couple of questionable scenes, but I would not have a problem with children watching this movie with me. (I noted in other reviews that I believe parents should always watch movies or TV programs with their children.)

I'm used to Dean Jones as the hero of countless Disney live action films. Here, he plays the villain, and does a chilling job with it.

I would highly recommend this comedy, especially if you want something for the whole family.

Good clean family fun.

I have seen Beethoven about three times now and it's still funny. I can reccomend this movie for the whole family. It's one that the parents can enjoy along with the kids. Here we have laughs galore and a story thrown in there too. I also found this movie to be moving, which i did not expect, and towards the end it went quite dramatic which i did expect since theres always a bad guy in these type of movies who is trying to harm the innocent animals. Be careful your kids don't throw tomatoes at the television screen whenever the bad guy shows up, he's a real stinker.

I Love It

I used to watch "Beethoven" when I was was young, and I was watching it today. We have this and "Beethoven's 2nd" on video, but I agree that "Beethoven" may not be for younger children but I really, really love it.

Cute movie

BEETHOVEN, in my opinion, is a cute movie. I thought that George (Charles Grodin) was a LITTLE cold-hearted, but Alice (Bonnie Hunt) and the children (Sarah Rose Karr, Christopher Castile, Nicholle Tom) were VERY nice people. Beethoven was a sweet dog, though. He even saved the Newtons in times of trouble. Way to go, Beethoven! Dr. Varnick (Dean Jones) was a LITTLE scary to me, but I thought he gave a smashing performance. I thought that Emily (Sarah Rose Karr), Ted (Christopher Castile), and Ryce (Nicholle Tom) looked nice in the clothing they wore when they served George his breakfast. In conclusion, I HIGHLY recommend this movie to all you dog lovers or Charles Grodin fans who have not seen it.

a bit more cruel than the 2nd

A mad scientist lab needs puppies, so his two henchman go out to get some. While puppy Beethoven waits all day long for someone to take him home, the nappers take him and a few others that night. However, he winds up being 1 of 2 that escape.George Newton has perfect living environment. No pets, but when Beethoven simply walks in, it's 4 against 1.Later the evil scientist poses as a veteran and starts making up phony stories about dogs like Beethoven snap at anytime. George believes this easily. It doesn't look good for Beethoven.Can George and Beethoven figure a way out to live with each other? Will the evil scientists succeed? That's basically the whole plot of the film.

What must the composer think?

OK, when we were younger, we all liked it when movies portrayed families buying unusual pets who proceeded to trash everything. Back in the early 1800s, when Ludwig van Beethoven was writing and performing his great music, he probably never suspected that such a movie would carry his name.So, "Beethoven" is cute, if nothing else (actually, there really is nothing else). Aside from the main cast of Charles Grodin (when was the last time that he starred in something really good?), Bonnie Hunt and Dean Jones, there are also some people who got really famous within a few years: Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, David Duchovny (is Mulder investigating a conspiracy here?) and Patricia Heaton.

Roll Over Beethoven!

This is a great little movie - full of slapstick laughs and some real weepy moments.I'm surprised it hasn't got a better overall rating here: it's one of those movies I saw many years ago at the cinema and when it recently came on television, some 13 years later, it had been so memorable, I recalled every little thing about it.A real family treat, particularly for dog lovers. The plot is simple enough for younger children to follow and enjoy and the laughs are good enough to keep the parents entertained.X-Files fans should keep their eyes open for David Duchovny!

The Good & Bad Of 'Beethoven'

This was almost like an old-fashioned type of nice movie "the whole family will enjoy," as the stupid trailers used to always say. They aren't always right about that, but they are with this one.BAD NEWS - The "bad news" was (a) the silly ending, (b) some silly-stupid scenes earlier in which what you saw could never really happen, and (c) the three kids were annoying and bossy at times.GOOD NEWS - The "good news" is, of course, "Beethoven," the lovable Saint Bernard who is a lot of fun to watch, especially with all his facial expressions. Also, it's a very entertaining story and there is absolutely nothing offensive, language-wise, in here.OVERALL - This was popular enough to spawn some sequels, none of which were close in caliber to this one. A good family film worth viewing, but mainly if you like big, lovable dogs.

Always refreshing after a hard day's work

If you take yourself too seriously, Beethoven will either gross you out or provide a great, relaxing dose of psychotropic slapstick. It is frequently TOO MUCH, and then again, can't get enough of the gorgeous St. Bernard actors. The honesty of the human kids; the exquisite changes portrayed by their dad, Charles Grodin; the down-to-earth Bonnie Hunt (until her disappointing emergency phone call); and-- You will find yourself thinking,
"Here's the puckish Stanley Tucci--" "Oliver Platt--master of deadpan."
"David Duchovny's comic range is really broad--WOW." There is also a fine supporting cast of dogs, and i can't even watch the villain, he's so evil.
A roller coaster ride that doesn't knock your rug off or mess up your do, with fine irrelevant complexities to keep you from falling asleep too early, i.e. before the kids do.

Very funny, a perfect kids' movie.

I love this movie. Bonnie Hunt as the mom and Charles Grodin as the dad are charming and believable. My kids also love this movie, and Patricia Heaton and David Duchovny are hilarious as a pair of scheming yuppies out to cheat Grodin. I recommend it if you are looking for a great family movie with no cursing. Stanley Tucci makes an amusing dognapper. Great casting, great comedic direction.

Sympathetic family movie

For those who have no idea what this movie is about, they may think this is a movie about the famous classical music artist. Well, it has absolutely nothing to do with it. "Beethoven" is not even a biographical or a musical, it's a family movie about a St. Bernard named Beethoven after a portion of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Fifth Symphony" is played and the puppy barks at the same time, as if he was telling how he wishes to be named.Anyway, generally speaking, this is a sympathetic family movie. Nothing super or tremendous, but a simple and enjoyable movie. Of course, the lovable St. Bernard is the main star and adds a lot to the movie. And anyone who loves dogs has got to love this gentle giant, if not the movie.I am a dog lover and St. Bernards are one of my favorite dog breeds. They're huge, beautiful, affectionate and sweet dogs, although they drool at lot!The story focus not only on our fluffy friend, but also on the Newton family: George (the father), Alice (the mother), Ryce (the oldest daughter), Ted (the middle son) and Emily (the youngest daughter). They're a nice family, but George isn't minimally interested in the dog, unlike the rest of the family (although much later in the film he has a change of heart and helps saving the day). Ryce... what kind of name is that? I hope it's not related to rice (the food). Emily is a lovely little girl and the cutest of the Newtons. Ryce, despite being so thin, is pretty in this film and I don't think she is a tomboy.All the actors who play the Newton family are good in their roles: Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Nicholle Tom, Cristopher Castile and Sarah Rose Karr. And, of course, the dog that plays Beethoven is also a great "actor".One word about Charles Grodin: although he was in his late 50's when the movie was made, he looked as if he was about 35. Amazing how someone that age can look so young.In the cast there is also an actor who is familiar from some old live-action Disney films: Dean Jones. Here, he portrays a villain - the wicked veterinarian Dr. Varnick, owner of a Porsche 911. His role is small, nevertheless he's in great shape. Actually, his role is meant to be minor. I don't think it would be necessary to make his role bigger.

Great family fun!

Put Charles Grodin together with a 200-pound Saint Bernard and you're likely to come up with some good laughs. In this popular family comedy from 1992 Grodin plays a beleaguered dad who reluctantly lets his kids keep the lost puppy they've adopted. The dog quickly grows into the huge and clever hound named Beethoven. In a marked departure from his nice-guy roles in several Disney comedies from the 1960s and '70s, Dean Jones plays the villainous veterinarian who abducts Beethoven to be a subject in his sadistic animal experiments. The kidnapping sets the stage for a raucous rescue and, of course, an inevitable sequel. Innocuous but harmlessly entertaining, Beethoven is one of those movies that some kids can't get enough of.

A GREAT movie

This is a fantastic movie and is one of my all time favarotes. Although i am not a dog person i love Beethoven who is a lovable dog who has nothing but love for his family though the father of the family George Newton played buy Charles Grodin for some reason hates him, sure he made a mess every where but i guess all dogs can be a hand fall. In the movie he helps one of the kids to meet this boy who she's in love with, then he saves one of the kids from bullies, then he saves the sweet little girl from drowning, and at the end he and his family save other dogs from an evil vet. If you ask me he is the perfect pet.I definitely give this one 10/10 basically because it was fun all the way through and as the movie went on it just got better and better. a simply great movie.

great family film

With the exception of a few more intense scenes in this film (namely the ones with the antics of the villian veteranarian), "Beethoven" is a great choice for the whole family. It's just a very lighthearted and fun film with real characters and a plot that is just as funny as it is heartwarming. It focuses on the Newtons, who are just a normal, happy family with their own set routine until a stray puppy comes upon them and "puts the dents in their home." The father George's (played to perfection by Charles Grodin) feelings for this dog are beyond indifferent, but he finally gives in to his three young children and allows them to keep the puppy, whom they soon dub with the name "Beethoven." As the dog grows into an enormous St. Bernard, the kids are having a ball with him, but George is....well, this is not quite the kind of change in his life that he had hoped for, and what unfolds are some often hilarious moments between George and Beethoven. I remember watching it over and over when I was younger, and I still love it now.

Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt are great as the kind and loving parents, and Nicholle Tom, Christopher Castile, and Sarah Rose Karr are equally delightful in their roles as the 3 kids. Overall just a really sweet, funny, and good family film.