Lenny the Wonder Dog

Story

Doctor Island (Joe Morton) has invented a computer microchip he plans to use to train dogs instantly. However, his former colleague, Doctor Wagner (Craig Ferguson), has other plans for the microchip: he wants to implant copies in every child in order to brainwash them to come work for him after they turn 18, and be exceedingly loyal. In the fight between Doctor Island and Doctor Wagner's henchmen, Hanky (Andrew Shaifer), Panky (Jeff Chase), and Doctor Island get injured and his dog Lenny (Andy Richter) is injected with the computer microchip. On the run, Lenny finds his brainpower growing. And when he finds a young boy, Zach (Sammy Kahn), to be his friend and savior, Lenny discovers he can talk. Lenny (continually amazed by the new powers the embedded microchip keeps giving him), Zach (full of unrequited love for longtime friend Becky), and school newspaper reporter Becky (Stephanie Sherrin) (out to write the story of the century) teams up with downtrodden police officer John Wyndham (Michael Winslow) to defeat Dr. Wagner and his henchmen. The showdown culminates at the school concert given by Pop Star Angie (Maria de los Angeles Monasterio), where Zach's inspiring speech and Lenny's audio powers combine to incriminate Doctor Wagner, who is arrested by the police captain, now appreciative of Officer Wyndham's talents for police-work and crime-solving.

Cast

Sammy Kahn as Zach

Joe Morton as Dr. Island

Andy Richter as the voice of Lenny

Craig Ferguson as Dr. Richard Wagner

Kathy Kinney as Lisa Lathers

Michael Winslow as John Wyndham

Jeff Chase as Panky

Evan Adams as Razel

Paola Turbay as Mrs. Ripley

Camila Banus as Rainbow

Oscar Isaac as Fartman

Stephanie Sherrin as Becky

Andrew Shaifer as Hanky

"Boomer" as Lenny

Rus Blackwell as Harley

Jeffrey William Evans as Chief Greenwald

Damaris Justamante as Mayor Jenkins

Maria de los Angeles Monasterio as Angie

P.C. Martinez as Bodyguard

Graham Purdy as Jeremy

Roberto Smith as Henry

Release

Filmed at locations in Florida under the working title of A Dog and his Boy, the film had its first television release December 5, 2005 in Hungary as Lenny, a Csodakutya, followed by screening in Germany as Lenny, der Wunderhund, in Finland as Lenny ihmekoira, and in France as Lenny le chien parlant. Later French DVD release was as Lenny Wonderdog. DVD releases include by North by Northwest Entertainment in 2005, Third Millennium in 2006, Boulevard Entertainment in 2007, and Peace Arch Trinity in 2008.

Reception

Lenny the Wonder Dog has received generally negative reviews. Common Sense Media panned the film giving it one star and writing "a baffling plot, cheap special effects, the repetitious chase scenes, and overall silliness make this movie almost unwatchable for adults", adding "though kids might find the visual jokes and pratfalls hilarious, the film sets the quality bar at a very low level." They also offered that Craig Ferguson's performance as the megalomaniacal Dr. Richard Wagner, "is so over-the-top it could become a career landmark."

The Dove Foundation criticized the language used in the film as non-family friendly, writing "Although this is an off-the-wall comedy that is geared toward the family, it cannot be family approved due to some language issues."

Florida real estate developer Jeff Sherrin "politely but abruptly shrugs off" any question about the film. His daughter, Stephanie Sherrin, appeared in this film as well as in Kids in America.