Footrot Flats: The Dog's Tale (1987)
Featuring the characters from Murray Ball's "Footrot Flats" (New Zealands most beloved local cartoon strip), questions to be answered include: Will Wal Footrot win the affections of Cheeky Hobson over the sleazy Spit Murphy? Will the Dog win the affections of the lovely Jess? Will Wal make a good impression on the selectors at Saturday's rugby match? Can Rangi and Pongo save Cooch's prize stag from the depths of Blackwater Station, home of the Murphys, their vicious dogs and deadly croco-pigs? All this and more will be answered as the small town of Raupo comes to life on the big screen.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Similar titles
Reviews
Save your money for something good and enjoyable
Good story, Not enough for a whole film
Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.
Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
Truth is I did keep an open mind, but i could see that despite the heart of this movie it wasn't enough to hide the missing a few basic film making essentials. I laughed but it was usually when no one else was, kids and parents around laughed a little more robustly so i maybe jaded, anyway I feel that...Too many cutaways were missing, to tie things together and make it a sweeter experience.Characters needed just a little more development to give them some character.Script needed tightening as did some scenes.(wal dancing to 'outta be in love') The most defined and likable characters were RANGI and HORSE, Jess was likable enough but needed a little more attitude and more screen time.best voice over was RANGI(rawini prating) I recommend this if you have kids, are a kiwi or want to know about NZ and kiwis or if you are a farmer or want to know about farmers.
This movie was bloody excellent - sorry but its almost like a opening line by Wallace Footrot. Anyways They are releasing this movie on DVD for the first time in almost 20 years on November the 9th, 2005. The movie set the scene for many New Zealanders or as we call them Kiwi's. It shows the life on the farm, as well as the sport that many Kiwi's love, Rugby. the life of a jealous dog who loves his owner and Loves his owner to love him. The trials and tribulations of a Dog, and owner relationship, with the beautiful animal lover neighbor, his pet cat, named horse who is ferocious and a fine example or a fine male dominant cat. We can forget the many others in this movie as well
This film was indeed a big hit when it came out in the mid-80s. I watched it again recently for the first time since seeing it on the big screen, and was suprised at how different my perception was of it as an adult rather than a kid. As a kid I don't remember the awful synth music being quite so awful, yet of course this can be put down to the decade which spawned it. The voice of the dog was also far too weak and naieve, and was the script, I didn't feel that it captured the dog's character as I imagined it having grown up reading the Footrot Flats cartoons. Aside from the script and soundtrack though, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie again. The backgrounds are great and really capture the dark gritty feel of rural New Zealand. The animation is good and the rugby scenes are funny and really capture the end of an era - farmers dreaming of being All Blacks, not for money but for glory. The days before the All Blacks donned Adidas shirts. I think that if the soundtrack was re-recorded and some of the script changed this A Dog's Tail could be re-released and make a comeback in the theatres. However as a slice of 80s it is a pristine example as it is.
I have to say that this is one of New Zealand's greatest movies. Unlike "Lawless", "Xena", "Hercules" and the like, this movie proved that New Zealand can do animated features. The soundtrack is great - personally I like Oughta Be In Love and Slice of Heaven. Good on ya Murray Ball and my Dog Rest in Peace.