Snow Dogs (2002)

24% of critics liked it
(80 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(122,024 ratings)

Two Oscar-winning actors add a family-oriented comedy to their resumes with this Disney-produced arctic adventure. Snow Dogs stars Cuba Gooding Jr. as Ted Brooks, a Florida-dwelling dentist with a successful chain of offices and a comfy, poolside lifestyle. All this changes, however, when he finds… More Two Oscar-winning actors add a family-oriented comedy to their resumes with this Disney-produced arctic adventure. Snow Dogs stars Cuba Gooding Jr. as Ted Brooks, a Florida-dwelling dentist with a successful chain of offices and a comfy, poolside lifestyle. All this changes, however, when he finds out that he was actually adopted as a child, and that his birth mother has died and left him an inheritance in her home state of Alaska, of all places. After arriving in the snow-bound clime, Ted learns that he has been willed a pack of cutely named sled dogs: Demon, Diesel, Dutchess, Nana, Mack, Scooper, Sniff, and Yodel. Problem is, the town's premiere sled-dogger, Thunder Jack (James Coburn), wants the pack for himself, and encourages Ted to go back to his tropical environs. But with a major sled-dog race looming, Ted's inspired to learn the ropes, as it were, and prove himself worthy of his birth mother's inheritance -- any way he can. Snow Dogs was directed by Jingle All the Way's Brian Levant and features some animatronic dog effects by Jim Henson's Creature Shop; the script was very loosely adapted from popular author Gary Paulsen's nonfiction book Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Brian Levant
Written By: Jim Kouf, Tommy Swerdlow, Michael Goldberg, Mark Gibson, Philip Halprin
Genres: Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 18, 2002 Wide
On DVD: May 14, 2002
Studio: Buena Vista Distribution Compa

Critic Reviews

Robert K. Elder, Chicago Tribune
What Faustian bargain did Gooding make, forcing him to star in this insipid fish-out-of-water comedy that paints him as a Bolton fan?
Joe Leydon, Variety
Instantly forgettable.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Phoned-in business as usual.
William Triplett, Washington Post
If you have a soft spot for man's best friend, it's a pretty good throwaway movie.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
Five screenwriters are credited with the cliché-laden screenplay; it seems as if each watered down the version of the one before.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
"Snow Dogs" doesn't offer much, but to be fair, it had the youngest viewers at my screening cheering and laughing until the end.
Tyler Hanley, Palo Alto Weekly
Whoever let the dogs out should probably consider a career change.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
...As fleeting and insubstantial as a snowflake, and about as much fun.
Forrest Hartman, Reno Gazette-Journal
While kids will probably eat the whole thing up, most adults will be way ahead of the plot.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Michael M

It's not terrible, it's an entertaining family comedy and probably the best disney have made with some guy and some huskies.
Brad W

This movie is so cliche and stupid im sad i ever saw it as a kid, and I hated it.
Alexander D

OK
Cassie H

A wonderful family film. Cuba Gooding Jr. was hilarious as Ted Brooks & Sisqo who played Rupert was hilarious as well. I also enjoyed Nichelle Nichols (Amelia Brooks) & Joanna Bacalso (Barb). Of course I loved the Michael Bolton cameo because I love the song Jack Sparrow &… More
A wonderful family film. Cuba Gooding Jr. was hilarious as Ted Brooks & Sisqo who played Rupert was hilarious as well. I also enjoyed Nichelle Nichols (Amelia Brooks) & Joanna Bacalso (Barb). Of course I loved the Michael Bolton cameo because I love the song Jack Sparrow & he's awesome in it. Such a great movie and another adorable walt disney pictures classic.
KJ P

I cannot say, for one second that it is a good film, because it is definitely not, but for some reason I enjoy it's little charm. I hate the film for ripping off of eight below, but in a different way. It was okay at most.
Leigh R

Cute!
Film C

loved it funny and sweet and cute
Dean !

A very family friendly comedy. Funnier than I expected it to be and I love Huskies!!
Jennifer X

were the producers drunk when they signed on to make this movie?
xGary X

An unbelievably lame concept for a comedy, as city slicker Cuba Gooding Jr learns dog sledding in Alaska. The thought of sitting through this again is about as appealing as eating yellow snow.
Dean M

Good family comedy with a black dentist and these cute sled dogs.
Drew S

Cuba Gooding Jr. in true Roast-worthy material.
Morgan S

cute i guess
Bradley W

This movie is so cliche and stupid im sad i ever saw it as a kid, and I hated it.
Dillon L

Anybody who knows me knows I don't like Cuba Gooding Jr. at all. I hate his career, and any movie that features him (especially a kids movie) is automatically deducted several points.
Deb S

Cuba Gooding Jr. plays a successful Miami dentist who finds out from his mother that he is adopted after he gets an important message from Alaska. Since Ted was unaware of his adoptive status he begins to question everything about his life and heads to the remote Alaskan town. There… More
Cuba Gooding Jr. plays a successful Miami dentist who finds out from his mother that he is adopted after he gets an important message from Alaska. Since Ted was unaware of his adoptive status he begins to question everything about his life and heads to the remote Alaskan town. There he finds that he has inherited his mother's land as well as her prize-winning dog team. The hallucination sequence is actually pretty funny and the dogs were absolutely beautiful. The very young kids will love it with its abundance of cute dogs and there is not much crude remarks. The late great James Coburn plays Thunder Jack Johnson and sadly this was his last movie. Cute film that is utterly predictable and forgettable!
Yinalí R

Funny movie!
Andrew F

It's not a very good movie, and it is really weird. Watch <i>Eight Below</i> instead.
Sarah P

Of course it's predictable and follows the typical formula for this type of movie. That being said, I still thought it was funny and touching and the dogs were adorable!
The S

Lightweight family film - the familiar theme is a city boy out of his comfort zone in an icy wilderness amidst a host of colourful local characters. This time there's the additional interest of a dog team with attitude which should add some appeal for dog lovers. There are a few… More
Lightweight family film - the familiar theme is a city boy out of his comfort zone in an icy wilderness amidst a host of colourful local characters. This time there's the additional interest of a dog team with attitude which should add some appeal for dog lovers. There are a few mildly amusing moments and the movie is generally inoffensive enough.