Owd Bob [VHS]

Owd Bob [VHS]
by Rodney Gibbons

List Price: ~~$9.95~~
Category: VHS Video
See more movie releases

(Click here)

Buy this VHS video movie at online store in your country
Canada

Product details

Actor: Anthony Booth, Colm Meaney, James Cromwell, Jemima Rooper, John Benfield
Director: Rodney Gibbons
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language); German (Original Language)
Format: Color, NTSC
Running Time: 91 minutes
Release Date: 2001-08-14
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: Polygram USA Video
Studio: Polygram USA Video

VHS Movie Reviews of Owd Bob [VHS]

Movie Review: Babe, it ain't.
Summary: 3 Stars

So, let's see, we've cast James Cromwell, yet again, as a taciturn sheep farmer, and there're Border Collies, and trials ... and there the similarity pretty much ends.

Instead, we get two families with several kinds of losses -- dogs, lifestyles, parents -- and a vaguely Hallmark-flavored story of teen (and adult) angst and redemption.

Really, I wanted a different story several times during the climax of the movie, and I'm not even really sure why I'm unhappy with it, except that I think I felt vaguely betrayed. A limp performance from Provencher (the American grandson) doesn't help things any, nor those of the paper tigers who constitute MacAdam's rival farmers.

It was only after I was 3/4 through the movie that I realized I was watching "Bob, Son of Battle" -- a book I read when I was probably 10 years old; if I'd remembered that, I might've been less disappointed.

So, having said what I think's bad about it, what can I say that's good? Beautiful dogs, beautiful country. A really superlative and not-overacted moment from Cromwell at a key point in the movie (I cried, anyway). A good solid performance from Meaney, in fact both the male adult leads are really solid. And actually, it might not be a bad thing that, unlike the Ollivant story, the good guy has the bad dog and the bad guy has the good dog (I hope that didn't spoil it too much).

So, it's an okay movie and I'm not sorry I rented it, but I won't be buying it to own.

Movie Review: Great Movie That Went Unnoticed
Summary: 5 Stars

While the film quality is not like the big budgeted Hollywood films, this flick still carries its intention -- to entertain.

You have an American boy who was recently orphaned and is sent away to live with his grandfather on the Isle of Man. The grandfather was estranged from his daughter for many years after he sent her away so he could afford the farm to keep as a family legacy. He had a hard life when his sheep died and his wife was sick and died, so he had no other choice but to send his daughter away. He even had to sell his champion dog to get by.

When the boy comes to IOM, he meets a girl who doesn't know her mother is dying of cancer. They bond, but the grandfather is against them being together because her family bought his dog when he was desperate.

Around town, some dog has been killing sheep and the other farmers want to kill the dog Zack they think is the sheep killer. Owd Bob caught Zack in the act and chased him away, but the farmers did not see Zack, but Owd Bob covered in sheep's blood.

The boy saw the whole thing and the townspeople did not believe Owd Bob did not kill the sheep. He ran off with the dog and went to his grandfather hoping to clear Owd Bob by turning in his own dog, Zack.

You can pretty much guess what the rest of the movie is about. No profaniy, no nudity, just clean fun. You won't have to answer any embarassing questions when your kids watch.

Write your own review

Summary of Owd Bob [VHS]

You'd have to be some sort of an ogre to go wrong with Owd Bob. If warm, old-fashioned dog flicks aren't your thing, maybe stunning scenery is; green hills and azure seas don't get much more gorgeous than on Ireland's Celtic-breeze-whipped Isle of Man. Should neither of those appeal, though, it's easy to settle for simple good acting. Babe's James Cromwell stars as Adam McAdam, a grumpy old bugger who ticks away lonely days tending the farm alongside his champion sheepdog Zac. Then comes the day his orphaned American grandson, David, is dumped at his doorstep. McAdam, a pretty poor excuse for company, can't keep David from befriending neighbor girl Maggie Moore. Bad blood between the Moores and the McAdams runs deep, but the conflict du jour centers around dogs--Owd Bob, Maggie's pup, aims to put Zac to shame in the upcoming sheepherding tournament. Leading up to the contest, parallel story lines swirl around: Maggie's mom is dying, and a crew of local cronies suspect Zac, who's lately been spotted licking blood-stained chops, of being a sheep killer. While tensions between David and his grandfather escalate, David moves out, Maggie loses her mom, and the dogs do their stuff, with Zac coming out the victor. There's still the matter of the sheep murders, though. In a dramatic pup frame-up, Owd Bob is the fall guy, and only old man McAdam can save him from being destroyed. It's a sad ending for Zac, but one that allows McAdam's well-buried love for his grandson to surface. Whatever propels you to spring for this film, break out the family-sized popcorn bowl. Owd Bob's penchant for bringing folks together is as powerful in living rooms as it is onscreen. --Tammy La Gorce

7-9 Years Video

Video Genres

Movies most talked about in 7-9 Years Video

Barney - Waiting for Santa (1992) [VHS]
Warner Bros. Television; Release date: 1996-09-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: ~~$14.95~~

Fantasia (Walt Disney's Masterpiece) [VHS]
Walt Disney Home Video; Release date: 1992-09-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $4.75
Price in other shops: ~~$24.99~~

Aladdin (A Walt Disney Classic) [VHS]
Walt Disney Home Video; Release date: 1993-09-29; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $4.56
Price in other shops: ~~$24.99~~

Christmas Box [VHS]
Hallmark; Release date: 1998-09-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $18.87

The Little Mermaid (Fully Restored Special Edition) (Disney's Masterpiece) [VHS]
Disney; Walt Disney Home Video; Release date: 1998-03-31; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops: ~~$26.99~~

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Walt Disney's Masterpiece) [VHS]
Walt Disney Home Video; Release date: 1994-10-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops: ~~$26.99~~

Cinderella (Walt Disney's Masterpiece) [VHS]
Walt Disney Home Video; Release date: 1995-10-04; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.25
Price in other shops: ~~$44.99~~

The Lion King (A Walt Disney Masterpiece) [VHS]
Walt Disney Home Video; Release date: 1995-03-03; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $8.49
Price in other shops: ~~$26.99~~

Toy Story [VHS]
Walt Disney Home Video; Release date: 1996-10-30; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $4.84
Price in other shops: ~~$22.99~~