Yeah, the 1991 family film "Bingo" may be stupid, over the top, and completely fanciful, but the whole point is that it's basically a spoof of the entire "boy and his dog" genre, which was ripe enough for parody. It creates some effective laugh out loud moments while managing to never go overboard in terms of cuteness or sappiness, and keeping a fairly skewed sensibility. However, parents may want to check it out for themselves before watching it with their youngest children, as there are scenes that may be upsetting (it's not *that* family friendly). Still, there are some very bright moments and the cast is good, especially the wonderful female mongrel in the title role - a truly talented canine found in a shelter - trained by animal specialist Boone Narr.

Bingo is a dog who's run away from a circus and who comes into the life of a boy named Chuckie (the appealing Robert J. Steinmiller, Jr.). They become good friends, but Chuckie can't bring the dog into his home because his father, Hal (David Rasche),a place kicker for the Denver Broncos, dislikes animals. Wouldn't you know it: Hal gets traded from Denver to Green Bay, and the family must quickly move away, forcing Chuckie to leave the dog behind. Bingo then embarks on a series of silly misadventures while tracking the Devlin family cross country, incurring the wrath of two felons on the loose, Lennie (Kurt Fuller),and Eli (Joe Guzaldo).

This actually gets a little intense at times, such as any scene involving fire, and the whole sequence with the diner is likely going to bother some people (not just kids). But there's enough engagingly loopy comedy to counteract any bad taste that might be generated. Among other things, Bingo brings champagne to a hot-to-trot cocker spaniel, is made to walk a straight line by a traffic cop, takes the witness stand in a courtroom, and goes to a prison - a human prison. Cindy Williams and Rasche are fine as the parents, Fuller and Guzaldo appropriately scummy as the criminal duo, and the cast features other familiar faces such as Glenn Shadix, Janet Wright, Wayne Robson, and Suzie Plakson. Director Matthew Robbins ("Dragonslayer", "The Legend of Billie Jean", "*batteries not included") keeps the pace consistent and brings things to a lively finish; Jim Strains' script closes the movie on a hysterical final joke.

Fun stuff overall.

Seven out of 10.

At least, the tabletop game was a lot more fun than this film. Bingo, the comedy film was dog-crap. As a kid of the 1990s, this kid movie was really hard watch at the time. Directed by Matthew Robbins, the film tells the story of a circus dog named Bingo trying to reconnect with his owner, Chuckie Devlin (Robert J. Steinmiller Jr.),when both of them, got separate on a recent move to another state. Can Bingo find Chuck or will Bingo end up, being abandoned? Watch the movie to find out, if you want to! Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, this movie was pretty damn dark for a kid's film. It was really shocking to find out, that this film was rated PG at the time; due to fact, that the film has a lot of swelling, over-drinking, sex related themes and some rather graphic violence. However, it's the disturbing scenes that take the cake for me. There are tons of intense scenes where animals are being turn into meat sausages, going through fires, or getting shot at. That's hardly the worst, as the film really veer off from being acceptable as a family film, as adult-theme gags are introduce, such as Bingo meeting a sleazy prostitute named Bunny (Tamsin Kelsey),a large knife wielding escape prison convict, "Four-Eyes" (Wayne Robson),and a bunch of criminals, Lennie (Kurt Fuller),and Eli (Joe Guzaldo) who loves torturing children. Honestly, I have no clue, who this film was gear for? It's marketed as a kid movie, but most of the jokes seem for adults. I really doubt, any adults of a certain age would find this movie, fantastic to watch. After all, they could just watch, funnier more recent adult-driven comedies with dogs like 2011's TV Show 'Wilfred" or "Family Guy". The only ones, I can see, rewatching this film are the kids now turn adults like myself, just wanting to rant about it. However, that viewership is slim to none, since this movie bomb at the box office, went it came out. For children; I really doubt, kids of today, would find this film, very interesting, due to the fact, that, it's a bit dated. Also, because that there has been a large surge of unwatchable child-friendly dog movies that been circulating kid's film genre as of late. Not only has those films really oversaturate the market, but it makes films like this, harder to stand out. In my opinion, films like these, don't have a chance in being a good dramatic heart-warming film, compare to films like 2009's 'Hachi: A Dog's Tale' or 2008's 'Marley & Me'. Even, as adventure comedy about a dog trying to get back with its owner, this movie really fails to be, very entertaining as a kid's film. Films like 1993's 'Homeward Bound: Incredible Journey' shows a great mix of humor and heart. This movie hardly shows that. Most of the human characters are one-dimensional, unrealistic dog-hating villains. Even Chuckie's family was very crude and unlikeable to Bingo for some odd reason. They were just the worst. Very annoying parents, Natalie (Cindy Williams) & Hal Devlin (David Rasche) were. All they do is fight and yelled. The brother of Chuck, Chickie (David French) is nearly a borderline psychopath, because of it. I really don't think, Bingo should even reunited with Chuckie, just for that reason, along. God knows, what Chuckie's evil family, would do; once they get hold on him. As a spoof, in which, I believe, this film was going for. It's a lot better than, let's say, the 2005's film, 'Karate Dog', but not as good as '2001's Cats Vs Dogs'. While, the movie does have some funny low blow dark humor; sadly most of it, didn't hit my funny bone. I laugh more at the cheap awful visual effects in the film like puppet paws, more than the film jokes, itself. Still, it was nice to see Bingo, being able to telephone 911, know Morse code, drive a truck, do math, and even stop a bomb from exploding. I found the far-fetched nature of Bingo's actions to be, kinda funny. I also, like the female dog that portraying the very male, Bingo. I found her to be very cute, friendly and well-trained. Other things, that I kinda like, about the film is the theme song by Robert Gibbs. Its sound, very similar to 'Way Out There' by Carter Burwell, from 1987's Raising Arizona. It's somewhat catchy. Still, overall, this film seems to have missed its mark. Not only did it, not gain its intended target, overtime, but it's still being overshadow, by better animal related comedies. It's a long forgotten comedy that probably deserve that title. In other words: dog crap.

Almost competing with Beethoven, as if running at the same time, cinema wise, here's a fun family film. I'm not really one's for kid's movies, where there's a tiny minority I like, but I do love dog ones, as I love dogs period. Bingo, a stray circus dog just grows on you. We have the typical story, of dog befriending boy, after amazingly pulling the lad out of a stream. I don't know why the ratings so low here. What, are people on drugs. This is another kid's film that a bad and unjust rap. Let me clear this problem now. If you love dogs and kids movie's, this is a must see, especially lovers of dog films. Bingo, becoming part of the new found family, though David Rasche played a bit of an asshole father, his wife played by Cindy Williams who pops back up onto the screen. Bingo so smart, I mean smart, and cute. Bingo goes on another mission, to save these caged puppies plight's, from become fodder, which dog lover I am, make me sick to think of that scene, where there are real scumbags out there, a scene very reminiscent to the one in Alan Parker's 1985 drama, Birdy. Luckily, here's another successful savior. Is there anything this dog can't do. I'd say, probably not. Don't feed off negative reviews for this one, where I think this Beethoven pi..ed off Bingo, if showing the movie up. They're different dog movies, this one just happening to be an infectious one. Even if never seeing Beethoven, opt to see this one first. I guarantee, you'll be won over by this adept beauty. An almost enigmatically underrated movie, where you should discount the bad hype.