Beethoven’s 2nd ** (1993, Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Nicholle Tom) – Classic Movie Review 11,227

Director Rod Daniel’s popular 1993 comedy sequel Beethoven’s 2nd is the rather weary, and fairly sickly second helping of the adventures of the mischievous St Bernard dog, belonging to the Newton family headed by dizzy dad George (Charles Grodin). It was nominated for an Oscar: Best Music, Original Song for the song ‘The Day I Fall in Love’ (Carole Bayer Sager, James Ingram, Clif Magness).

Len Blum’s fluffy, daft, insubstantial script centres on the pooch falling in love at first sight with Missy, a female St Bernard with a pink ribbon, and the result is four adorable puppies, and then there is some nonsense about the owner’s ex-wife Regina (Debi Mazar) dognapping Missy and holding the dog for alimony.

The series has already gone to the dogs. There is little to nudge the funny bone because the script is fairly low on wit, imagination and real sense of fun, and the film’s values are on the smug and reactionary side, while the characters are rather vapid and the humour is very contrived.

Beethoven’s 2nd is a dog-eared item, mainly for tolerant children only but the extremely droll Grodin helps to keep it vaguely amusing for adults and is its saving grace, managing to make even weak material amusing.

Also in the cast are Bonnie Hunt, Nicholle Tom, Christopher Castile, Sarah Rose Karr, Ashley Hamilton, Chris Penn, Debi Mazar, Danny Masterson, Catherine Reitman, Maury Chaykin and Jeff Corey.

It was a hit again, costing $15,000,000 and grossing $118,243,066 worldwide.

It follows the 1992 hit Beethoven. Made-for-video sequels followed in 2000 Beethoven’s 3rd (with Judge Reinhold), 2001 Beethoven’s 4th (with Judge Reinhold), and 2003 Beethoven’s 5th (with Dave Thomas).

Beethoven’s 2nd (1993, Charles Grodin).

RIP the deliciously dry, droll, deadpan comedian Charles Grodin, who died on 18 May 2021, aged 86. He is also remembered for The Heartbreak Kid (1972), King Kong (1976) and Midnight Run (1988).

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,227

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