Dakota

It means to be about a struggling family saved by a brave dog. What most viewers will agree on is that it needed more dog.

For a family film with after-school-special vibes, it lands exactly where it should.

Johnny Harrington's script is a little too paint-by-numbers to land a strong impact.

Dakota the dog can't quite fill the paw prints of Lassie, Benji, or Rin Tin Tin -- there's just not enough warm fuzzies in the fur of this Belgian Malinois.

What better way to honor veterans than with a dog movie that makes Beethoven look like The Magnificent Ambersons.

An unabashedly corny family movie that features second-rate performances, choppy editing, and dialogue that is written at a 4th grade reading level. This film is lousy, even if it has its heart in the right place.

Dakota could have been manipulative and mawkish, and honesty, maybe that would have been better.

An unoriginal, overly-sentimental film with no new ideas and no right to demand your attention.

whether youre a dog-lover, or just enjoy wholesome family entertainment, Dakota hits the right spot for canine appreciation