5/5 When Disney Was Great - More Extras Please!
  by R. Dack (St. Louis Park, MN United States)
With Dean, Jones, Keenan Wynn, Michael McGreevey and Tim Conway you can't go wrong with these incredible character actors. This is when Disney was great! As far as i'm concerned Disney died after The Rescuers (1978,1979).

Wilby Daniels tries to recover the stolen Borgia ring that transforms him into a dog as he's running for District Atty. Don't miss Conways hilarious scene in the Warehouse with the Security Guard..."the sannifran in the rectafrazzins condensing"

One of my top four fav's from the once-great, no longer palatable Disney Company.

5/5 Dean Jones at his hilarious best!
  by Richard Berkheiser (South Bend, IN)
"The Shaggy D. A." is quite possibily one of Disney's Best films. When they bring in a respected actor like Dean Jones with an all-star cast of comedians; you are bound to get one of the funniest films ever made. A movie the whole family will enjoy without all the garbage that is so prevalent in movies today.

3/5 A Dog's Tale
  by Lonnie E. Holder (Columbus, Indiana, United States)
This movie was a sequel to the clever 1959 movie "The Shaggy Dog." That movie was charming and clever, packing a lot of humor and numerous subplots into a relatively short film. Unfortunately, this film is a pale shadow of the earlier film. The jokes are often forced and a viewer can easily see that the special effects used to make the dogs talk are film loops of dogs chewing. I recommend this film only for people who are loyal Disney fans or fans of the numerous well-known actors in this film.

Wilby Daniels (Tommy Kirk) encountered a Borgia ring in the 1959 movie "The Shaggy Dog." His transmutation into a sheep dog stopped at the end of the movie and the ring was put into safe keeping. Seventeen years later Wilby Daniels, now played by Disney regular Dean Jones, is an attorney living in a town full of corruption, lead by district attorney "Honest" John Slade, played by another Disney regular, Keenan Wynn. After being a victim of the rampant crime in Medfield, Wilby decides it is time to challenge Slade for the position of district attorney.

Unfortunately for Daniels, the Borgia ring has resurfaced and has already worked wonders for his hair; and his nose; and his tail! In a reprise of the original movie, we see Wilby turn into a sheepdog at the worst possible times. Wilby also manages to vex Tim Conway, who keeps trying to win a bet that his sheepdog Elwood can talk.

The rest of the movie is routinely scripted with slapstick jokes and scenes that are variations of similar jokes and themes from 1970's-era Disney movies, which is really the problem with this movie. The movie is okay, but uninspired. The movie struggles to be funny. The minimal tension in the movie is forced and generally unbelievable. The movie comes across as being tired.

In spite of the rehashed plot, the tired jokes and the slapstick, there are things to like about this movie. Somehow Suzanne Pleshette rises above the script in her role as wife Betty Daniels. Though the character of "Honest" John Slade is a stereotype of similar characters in other Disney films, Keenan Wynn is always fun to watch. The movie had other shining moments. The cherry pie fight scene was funny. Though the talking dog bit was over-used, the dog pound breakout had humorous moments.

Other well-known stars from that era include Vic Tayback (a regular in the television show "Alice") as crook Eddie Roschak, Dick Van Patten ("Eight Is Enough") as Slade's assistant, and Jo Ann Worley (whose first role was in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" in 1960, but became famous on Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In"; Worley also appeared in the 1962 Disney space comedy "Moon Pilot") as Tim Conway's roller derby girl friend Katrinka Muggelberg.

In the 1950's and the 1960's Disney excelled at light comedy. The movie "The Shaggy Dog" is one of those light comedies. Unfortunately, Disney struggled in the late 1960's and in the 1970's with weak plots and weak scripts. This sequel to "The Shaggy Dog" was one of those that suffered from a weak script. Fortunately, there are just enough moments in this movie to make the movie worth having if you are a Dean Jones fan, a big Disney fan, or a fan of any of the other actors in this movie. I am usually comfortable with my rating for a movie, but if I could I would have rated this one three and a half stars.

Good luck!


4/5 The Shaggy DA
  by
The better sequel to the Shaggy dog, "The Shaggy DA"
with an all star Disney cast is one of Disney's great
comedies of the 70's. Released in 1976, and starring
Dean Jones, Suzzanne Pleshette, Tim Conway and Keenan
Wynn, this movie provides enjoyment of all ages. Wilby
Daniels (Dean Jones), decides to oppose District Attorney
John Slade (Keenan Wynn) for the next elections, aiming
to clean up the city and destroy organised crime. Knowing
that Slade has connections in organized crime, and the
fact that his house had been robbed twice, Daniels pursues
popularity in a strong election campaign, with his wife
(Suzanne Pleshette)giving him great support. The borja ring,
after being kept in the local musuem, had been stolen, and
the thieves with no knowledge of it's mystic powers, sell
it. After a round of hands possess the ring, it finally
ends up in Slades possession, and after a series of
embarrassements in which Daniels is transformed into a
shaggy dog, Slade realizes that he can use the ring to
blackmail Daniels out of the elections. Daniels pursues
slade with ice cream vendor (Tim Conway) (the real shaggy
dog owner) and Daniels son. The ring is finally returned
to its rightfull owners and Slade is removed from office,
making Wilby Daniels the District Attorney. This 91 min
movie, rated G is a great laugh and provides the whole
family with entertainment. Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette
have worked together in another Disney favourite,

"Blackbeard's Ghost" 1969, and Dean Jones has starred in many
Disney favourites, such as race car driver Jim Douglas in "Herbie -
The Love Bug" 1969, "Herbie goes to montie Carlo" 1977.
Other Disney films include Monkeys Go home, and Million dollar
duck, and again teamed up with Suzanne Pleshette. Dean Jones
seemed to work well with Suzanne Pleshette as well as Don Knotts
in many Disney all time favourite movies. Tim Conway worked
with Don Knotts in "The Apple Dumpling gang," and "The Apple
Dumpling gang rides again." Harry Morgan and Bill Bixby also
starred in the original apple dumpling gang, and Harry Morgan
(MASH) appeared in the sequel. Keenan Wynn appeared in many
Disney movies such as "Herbie rides again" in which he played
Alonzo Hawke. All other movies such as the ones above are highly
recommended for the whole family, and other Disney movies such as
"Hot lead and cold feet," and "Herbie goes bananas."
Hire or purchase "The Shaggy DA" to judge for yourself and for
a great time of Disney entertainment.
Eric Von Schnit

5/5 Great family fun
  by
Picks up where the the shaggy dog lets off, Great for the family.