Beethoven's 2nd

MPAA Rating: PG

Entertainment: +3

Content: +1

Beethoven, the big lovable canine, is back again to delight the whole family. Except, possibly the family of George and Alice Newton(Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt). They head up the family in BEETHOVEN'S 2ND who has to care for this huge, hungry St. Bernard as well as four cuddly puppies which have been presented to Beethoven by his new girlfriend, Missy. But George Newton's three kids, Ryce, Ted and Emily (Nicholle Tom, Chris Castile, Sarah Karr) love the puppies and persuade their father to keep them. Even so, Beethoven has a problem since Missy's mean owner, Regina (Debi Mazar), has Missy cooped up in her apartment and is determined to capture the puppies and sell them. The kids are just as determined to keep them and go to great lengths to elude Regina. Their escapades take them to a lake resort where the Newtons go for a vacation, only to meet up with Regina and her boyfriend, Floyd (Chris Penn). Amidst all this comical activity, Ryce meets a good looking lad, Seth (Danny Masterson), and they develop a romantic relationship. The fun and action never slows down and children as well as parents will get a kick out of this family comedy.

Although BEETHOVEN'S 2ND is appropriate for all ages, it has just enough questionable elements to earn its PG rating. It has a couple of moderate crudities, along with an obscenity uttered by Floyd and a comical reference to a boy's genitals by young Ted Newton. Supposedly for its comic effect, one scene has George explaining in rather vague terms "where babies come from" to young Emily. The show also has its share of slapstick comedy antics, including an offensive incident where Floyd is struck in the groin with a wooden pole. Also for laughs, the puppies urinate in George's briefcase and on Floyd's head. On the positive side, Ryce refuses to get involved sexually at a wild teenage drinking party. On the whole, BEETHOVEN'S 2ND is a reasonably wholesome movie and presents the Newtons as a close-knit, loving family.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Universal Pictures, 100 Universal Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Few (2) times, Moderate

Obscene Language: Twice (slang for excretion and male genital)

Profanity: Exclamatory - Twice (OMG)

Violence: Many times - Moderate, severe once (dog thrown in garbage box; beer poured on dog; balcony of house collapses, teenagers fall in lake; rough treatment; striking; people fall down mountain and into mud pond and river rapids; threat to puppy; man hit in groin)

Sex: None

Nudity: None

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Once (boy proposes sex to girl)

Drugs: Few times - Teenagers drink beer at party

Other: Prolonged obscured description of where babies come from; dog urinates on people; girl prays; messy eating contest)

Running Time:
Intended Audience: 4 years and over

Click HERE for a PRINTER-FRIENDLY version of this review.