Air Bud MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: +3 1/2

Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers) lost his dad a year ago to a plane crash. Now he's in a new town with no friends and finding it hard to fit in. He wants to play basketball, but that sport is the school's finest tradition and the competition to make the team is cut-throat. Josh resigns himself to playing by himself on an outdoor court at an abandoned church. That's where he meets Buddy - a talented but homeless dog looking for some food. The two team up, and try to help each other rebound from their misfortune. Josh makes the basketball team and gives Buddy a home. But misfortune strikes again as Buddy's former owner wants him back and Josh's team has only four players for the championship game. Kids and adults alike will cheer and cry for Josh and Buddy as they play their hearts out.

AIR BUD abounds with positive messages for young boys and girls. Amidst the basketball program's emphasis on winning, Josh learns to love the game for its own sake. He also learns the importance of giving your best, even when your circumstances make success seem impossible. Indeed, the movie supports many family values. Josh's mother reads to her children and shows them love and concern. A janitor at the school, who formerly played in the NBA, becomes the basketball coach, and teaches the boys the value of teamwork. Parents should be aware of some mild language and violence in the movie. Two mild crude words appear in the dialogue, and one boy is knocked over while another is hit in the groin with a ball. However, the movie's emphasis on family values and the relative absence of offensive material make AIR BUD a slam-dunk for kids and adults alike.

Preview Reviewer: Jason Shepherd
Distributor: Buena Vista, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 9152