Spooky Buddies (2011)

So much average

Sadly Over-hyped

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

I watched this movie last night, and I'm still in shock. I can't understand how the producers of the movie weren't sued. Honestly, this was an extremely bad copy of Hocus Pocus. There's a scene with a dance, a male witch, talking animals, a legend, a book with spells, a man who behaves like a zombie. I could not believe what I was watching. Hocus Pocus is one of my favourite childhood films, and it felt a little bit insulting to see how shamelessly the producers of this film had stolen everything from it. It's just a pity because there are some known names on the cast list. However, I did not see what other viewers are complaining about, the Christian matter. There are a lot of films with witches, talking animals and spells, and kids don't get traumatized by it. It's scarier fanaticism and complaining about talking dogs than this movie.

This movie is awful. However, for reasons unbeknown to me, my kid likes this movie.*Spoiler* You have been warned.To respond to a few of the reviews, in the context of the movie, it makes sense that the old guy would hide the book in the church, given that most people in previous generations went to church - even if they weren't 'believers'. People are correct when they say that all viewers aren't Christian, but it is also correct to point out that a lot of Disney viewers are Christians and support the Disney brand because they tend to be family-friendly. It's a delicate line movie makers walk to tell their stories. I'm not sure how you'd tell this particular story and exclude the church and the "good/evil" element. It would have lost a lot of its 'punch'. Honestly, I thought this scene w/the old man and the kids in the church was the best part of the movie. Besides the end.

I do not recommend this movie for children who have not been desensitized to evil witchcraft. References to evil spirits, the underworld, and black magic abound. The Halloween Hound has yellow glowing eyes and *minor spoiler* breathes out black smoke that turns animals to stone. He also "eats" the puppies' "souls". This is necessary to *spoiler* "open a porthole" that will unleash evil spirits into our world and give the evil warlock Warwick (Harland Williams) control of the world.There are, interestingly enough, two references to Christianity in the film. *Spoilers* One where the people are safe from evil in "the House of God" (a church), and another where reading words from the Bible thwarts evil. As a Christian, these references did not at all make up for the unnecessary exposure to evil and witchcraft. In my opinion, children DO NOT need this!We are fans of the "Buddies" movies, but NOT this one. My 8 and 10 year old hated this movie. They were both awake most of the night because of it. If you do not like the first 5 minutes of this movie, turn it off! It doesn't get any better.

I managed to get hold of an advanced copy of the movie and my 9 year old was jumping for joy about that, I wasn't holding my breath about watching this movie with her but we both laughed within 30 seconds of it starting. The production quality was equal to the other 3 in the series and I was very pleased because of that alone. The acting was pretty over the top but for young kids it was perfect and nothing too scary, the story line was pretty thin but it kept my little girl dancing up and down right up to the final elimination of the bad evil Warlock. It was all too cheesy but these movies are what it is all about as kids love cheesy and need a simple plot or they get lost. I for one will say it is OK for young kids and not too silly but Pixar movies are far superior and let kids use their own imagination more as well as letting adults enjoy them.