"Arquette Marks the 'Spot'"
by Scott Mantz

"See Spot Run"
David Arquette,
Michael Clarke Duncan
Directed by John Whitesell

Who let the dogs out? Angus Jones, David Arquette, and Bob the dog in "See Spot Run"

If you wanna make it big in Hollywood, you have to pay your dues. Just ask James Belushi, Charles Grodin, and even Tom Hanks, who've all had the dubious honor of playing second fiddle to a dog (in "K-9," "Beethoven," and "Turner & Hooch" respectively). Now you can add crazy guy David Arquette to the pound. While "See Spot Run" may not have you rolling over with laughter or leave you begging for more, it still has enough going for it to fit the bill as a charming and fun (if slightly gross) family movie. It also confirms the fact that David Arquette is one sick pup.

Agent 11 is one of the most honored and decorated FBI agents in the business. The only problem is, he's no ordinary agent. He drinks water out of a bowl, he likes to chew on bones, and he has four legs and a tail. That's right folks. Agent 11 is a dog, and he's in big trouble. After losing millions of dollars because of the pooch, a Mafia crime boss (Paul Sorvino) has decided that he wants him to play dead for good. K9 trainer Agent Murdock (Michael Clarke Duncan) reluctantly puts Agent 11 into a witness protection program, but he accidentally lands in the hands of Gordon (David Arquette), an irresponsible postal worker who hates dogs. It's only a matter of time before a couple of bumbling hitmen find Agent 11 (now known as Spot), and it's up to Gordon to rise to the occasion and save the day.

Making a kids movie that also appeals to adults is a mighty difficult task, but it can be done. Just check out "The Emperor's New Groove," "A Bugs Life," or one of the "Toy Story" movies. While "See Spot Run" doesn't even come close to matching the cinematic brilliance of those films, it still turns out to be a surprisingly tender and heartwarming movie. Sure, there's a lot of slapstick, and the film has more than its share of flatulence jokes, but it still gets by with a healthy dose of charm.

As far as physical comedy is concerned, you couldn't have asked for a better fall guy than David Arquette. Despite having provided most of the humor in t he "Scream" trilogy, he's still probably best known for his wild and crazy antics in those silly AT&T commercials. With "See Spot Run," he brings to mind Jim Carrey's outrageous behavior (before he got really, really big), but he still manages to grow up when a particular scene calls for it.

After his Oscar-nominated performance in "The Green Mile," as well as memorable turns in "Armageddon" and "The Whole Nine Yards," the big and burly Michael Clarke Duncan adds a surprisingly tender character to his resume as Spot's overly protective trainer. The beautiful Leslie Bibb literally goes through hell in order to get home to her son (played by Angus T. Jones), but the real one to watch is Anthony Anderson. He plays Arquette's fellow postal worker, and he beams so much energy and confidence into his role that he literally steals every scene he's in (just like he did in last year's "Me, Myself & Irene." Somebody give this guy his own movie!).

As purely lightweight entertainment, "See Spot Run" fetches the goods, but be warned--the film contains one rather graphic sequence that depicts the occupational hazards of walking your dog. Humor based on bodily functions has always been a cheap shot at getting a good laugh, but this scene is for the books. Overall, the film's creativity may be kept on a tight leash, but in the end, it will more than satisfy as a moviegoer's best friend.

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