Rate G, directed by John Whitesell, with David Arquette (Gordon Smith), Michael Clarke Duncan (Agent Murdoch), Leslie Bibb (Stephanie), Joe Viterelli (Gino Valente), Sonny Talia (Paul Sorvino) and Bob the Bull Mastiff (Spot, aka Agent 11), running time: 100 minutes.
It's got a dog, a child and a bunch of screenwriters working overtime to show how clever they are pandering doggy-done-it jokes. Spot is on the lam from Sonny Talia (Paul Sorvino), a buffoonish mob boss, who wants revenge for the testicles removed by Spot's teeth. The dog takes refuge with David Arquette, a buffoonish mailman who hates dogs. More joke opportunities are added because Arquette is also doing a spot of child minding in order to get into the pants of Stephanie (Leslie Bibb), a single-mom neighbor. Ultimately, despite a number of good sight gags and situations, John Whitesell shows the limitations of a sitcom director in a medium too big to handle.
PHOTO: WARNER BROTHERS
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