Man's Best Friend (1993)

So much average

Great Film overall

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This is a silly and nonsensical monster movie which mixes sci-fi elements in with plenty of tired and predictable clichés, rounded off by an unbelievable plot which bears little resemblance to real life. The intriguing possibilities of a killer dog movie are quickly dissipated when you realise that this is a family-orientated movie, complete with lame jokes and so much sweet talk and sentimentality that it'll make you physically sick (it certainly made ME sick). After the initial set-up, the film is merely content to go through the paces, introducing one-dimensional characters who are set up just to be killed off.The many death scenes in this film are generally off screen and not very gory, although some of them will make you jump. Sadly they're shot in such a slick way that any suspense or terror emanating from them is destroyed, as they just look too unrealistic. There are so many plot discrepancies that it's impossible to list all of them, plot twists are based on contrivances and you begin to wonder if the story was written by a child.The acting - well, if you can call it acting - from Ally Sheedy as the film's lead is terrible, her character a simpering idiot who fails to see what's going on right in front of her eyes. Incredibly, Sheedy continues to love the killer dog despite the fact that its eaten a cat whole, mutilated her boyfriend (via acid urine, go figure) and devoured half of the minor cast. The ever-reliable Lance Henriksen is on hand as a cruel scientist, and incredibly he's vilified as the film's chief villain - even though his only sin is to try and get his own property back! This is definitely a movie that makes no secret of its distaste for animal experimentation, as you get the morals shoved down your throat at every opportunity, the intelligent character Henriksen plays a mean-spirited and bad, bad person - despite the fact that he himself mentions that his research is being carried out for the good of mankind! Elsewhere, familiar faces like that of Robert Costanzo pop up but fail to make much of an impact, although I did like William Sanderson's bastard scrapyard owner whose first action upon receiving the dog is to club it with a spade! Whilst the first half of this film is schmaltzy, feel good stuff - you could be forgiven for thinking that you're watching BEETHOVEN, actually - packed with silly humour and obnoxious characters, the second half - a violent string of brutal murders - sits oddly with the beginning. Indeed some of this film's scenes border on the deeply unpleasant, like one character burning the dog's face with a blow torch as he is attacked! It's not really necessary, just a reason to give the dog an ugly look to make it more frightening. It's not. Kevin Yagher's usually reliable special effects work are also below par, the animatronics instantly recognisable from the real dog(s) used.The final insult comes at the end of this movie. What an infantile, stupid, moronic way to end the film. Aside from the incidental pleasure of watching a dog rip a postman to shreds, MAN'S BEST FRIEND is an appalling and ugly film to watch, one that offended me deeply.

i couldn't say more...this is a good horror movie actually,but i wonder why this movie is only given a 4.6 stars out of 10, why?? actually it deserves more than 6! Come on...this is a B movie, what more we can aspect?? The acting is quite good, especially Lance Henriksen. He is the only reason why i bought this movie. Ally Sheedy is not that good... but i think she's still OK in this movie. Not bad after all. The best part of this movie is The scene where the dog swallowed that little kitten. It looks very scary and funny a little bit. I really love this movie! So, i guess i'm the only one who's giving this a 10 out of 10 stars isn't it?? People might wonder why i give this 10 right?? I'll tell you why.. i'm just giving this movie a chance..cause this movie deserves higher rating than 4.6, maybe 6 and above to me. People are voting high ratings for the matrix and batman the dark night which i think was very very bad and stupid! Man's Best Friend is far much much more better than those! Give this movie a chance..plizzz....10/10**

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT!!! Newswoman Lori Tanner (Ally Sheedy) "rescues" a big cute dog named Max from Dr. Jarret's (Lance Henriksen) vivisection lab. What she doesn't know is that Max is a genetic experiment. He has abilities of other animals...and a REALLY bad temper.This starts off very good with Sheedy adopting the dog and takes all the stories about dogs chasing mailmen, dogs chasing newspaper kids and turns them on their ear. It's not done in a vicious manner but in a very fun way. For instance, when Max chases a cat up a tree he eats it full but there's not a drop of blood or gore! Also when he goes after a female dog to mate the song "Puppy Love" plays on the soundtrack. All of this is actually very funny and the dog itself is a good actor. But, halfway through, the jokes go out the window and graphic gore and violence kicks in. Balancing comedy and horror is very difficult. It can work (look at "American Werewolf in London") but it doesn't work here. The difference is jarring and the fun sort of drains away. Still it's worth catching. There's good acting by Sheedy and Henriksen and the dog is cute--even when it's tearing someone's throat open! An OK B movie. I give it a 6.

This is one of those movies that can entertain you as long as you don't get too critical. The basic premise of the story line is a good one but as with many low budget Sci-Fi films there are flaws in the telling.The biggest flaw is in the title itself. Being as this dog befriends Ally Sheedy's character and basically snarls at all the men it come across the film probably should have been called "Woman's Best Friend" or better yet "M.A.X.".Other than the title though the movie is basically a good film and you have to get pretty picky to find any real problems with it. It's not a great movie but it has some good scares, moments of comic relief, and some cool special effects.I don't know why this film has gotten such a low over-all rating. I know that IMDb ratings tend to average a bit on the low side but still this movie deserves a lot better than a 4.4. I have given the film a 7 and feel this movie is good enough to add to any one's DVD library if found at budget prices.Definitely worth a rental if you haven't already seen it.EB