LATEST DOG-TALKER NOT WORTH A LICK.

Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic

BAD MOVIE! Bad! Bad!

The latest talking-animal film ``Good Boy!'' lacks both the charming artistry of ``Babe'' and the manic energy of the ``Dr. Dolittle'' remakes. Its somewhat promising premise - an alien dog from the planet Sirius comes to Earth to see what went wrong with his species' plans for planetary takeover and bonds with lonely boy instead - certainly had potential. But that promise is muzzled by a purposely bland presentation that appears to have been designed to appeal solely to kids of all ages under 7.

Not that every potty-related doggy joke goes unsniffed. They're there, which only serves to make the childish approach seem more cynical. And while the film does tug at the primal people/pet emotions young kids should especially relate to, it also exploits the concept of forever losing man's best friends to such a manipulative extent that the movie could very well trigger more tiny tears than it does warm feelings or laughs.

Also, rather oddly for a movie made by Jim Henson Pictures, ``Good Boy!'' struggles mightily to make a virtue out of using real, trained dogs to play talking, rationally thinking (well, relatively) characters. A lot of work clearly went into making the pooches act naturally while still giving the impression that they're conversing. But with CG assists more or less limited to their yaps, the canines just don't do the kind of interest-holding, on-screen behavior that we've come to expect from more heavily computer- and puppet-assisted productions such as ``Cats and Dogs.'' Fun as it might be to get your Yorkie or whatever to eat at the table at home, in a movie it's just kind of blah.

As are the simple characters and tired gag lines in ``Good Boy!'' Liam Aiken's Owen is a lonely preadolescent whose parents (``Saturday Night Live'' alums Molly Shannon and Kevin Nealon) make their living occupying houses, redecorating and reselling them, then moving on. This has prevented Owen from making any lasting friends, so he derives companionship from walking a gaggle of his current neighborhood's dogs.

After a border terrier from Sirius, voiced by Matthew Broderick, crashes his spaceship nearby, Owen adopts him and names him Hubble. A cosmic zap later leaves Owen hearing every word Hubble says - not to mention the squawkings of his walking pack, which include assorted stereotypes (vain poodle, dumb boxer, nervous Italian greyhound, etc.) voiced with noticeable relish by Delta Burke, Brittany Murphy, Donald Faison and Carl Reiner.

What Hubble tells him is more alarming than the fact that Owen can hear it: If he can't prove to his planet's ruler, the Greater Dane (Vanessa Redgrave) that the Earth mission has succeeded, she will recall all Terran canines to the home star for punishment. From the pack's goofy, needy behavior, Hubble quickly realizes that dogs don't dominate here, and is duly disgusted.

But as he gradually discovers the joys of petting, hugging and chasing tossed objects for no good reason, Hubble conspires with Owen and his charges to fool the Greater Dane when she comes for her own inspection.

Actor turned first-time director John Hoffman - who also has the most writing credits on ``Good Boy!'' - displays more affection for animals than he does an imagination for how to have fun with them in a movie context. The result is a film that evokes neither true boy/dog love nor the wacky energy that this particular premise demands.

Bob Strauss, [phone]

bob.strauss(at)dailynews.com

GOOD BOY! - One and one half stars

(PG: language, bathroom humor)

Starring: Liam Aiken, Molly Shannon, Kevin Nealon. Voices of Matthew Broderick, Delta Burke, Donald Faison, Cheech Marin, Brittany Murphy, Carl Reiner, Vanessa Redgrave.

Director: John Hoffman.

Running time: 1 hr. 28 min.

Playing: Wide release.

In a nutshell: Dog-from-outer-space comedy without many laughs.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Liam Aiken plays a lonely boy who adopts Hubble, a pooch with an intergalactic agenda, in ``Good Boy!''