Zeus
is a sandy-haired dog belonging to a musician, Terry (Steve
Guttenberg), and his small son (Miko Hughes), who have come to the
Bahamas for a short stay. Next door is another single parent, Mary Beth
(Kathleen Quinlan), a marine biologist with two daughters (Majandra
Delfino and Jessica Howell).
Roxanne is a captive dolphin Mary
Beth is determined to help return to the wild. When Zeus and Roxanne
become soul mates, Mary Beth believes she's witnessing interspecies
communication, which could be a breakthrough in her work--and that could
save her from the alternative of working as an aquarium tour guide in
Minnesota. Meanwhile, she has a villainous colleague (Arnold Vosloo)
just waiting to co-opt her research. It's one of those movies in which
the animals are smarter than the humans, and the children smarter than
the adults.
Any grown-up, however, can see where director George
Miller (the "Man From Snowy River" George Miller, not the "Mad Max"
George Miller) and writer Tom Benedek are heading: The kids will play
matchmaker for their parents, there will be a glitch in their romance,
the villain will strike, etc. Your attention may wander.
As
children's entertainment, "Zeus and Roxanne" nevertheless works.
Guttenberg and Quinlan are attractive, capable players able to bring
some degree of reality to their single parents. Their kids are
precocious (natch), and youngsters in the audiences will be delighted
with Zeus and Roxanne and their friendship. The film has a nice bright
and shiny look and gorgeous photogenic locales, but Bruce Rowland's
relentless, violin-heavy score doesn't make sitting through "Zeus and
Roxanne" any easier.
* MPAA rating: PG, for mild thematic elements. Times guidelines: The film is appropriate for children.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
'Zeus and Roxanne'
Steve Guttenberg: Terry
Kathleen Quinlan: Mary Beth
Arnold Vosloo: Claude Carver
Dawn McMillan: Becky
An
MGM release of a Rysher Entertainment presentation of a Frank Price
production. Director George Miller. Producers Price, Gene Rosow and Ludi
Boeken. Executive producers Laura Friedman, Hilton Green. Screenplay
Tom Benedek. Cinematographer David Connell. Editor Harry Hitner.
Costumes Marion Boyce. Music Bruce Rowland. Production designer Bernt
Capra. Art director Alfred Kemper. Set decorator Beth Kushnick. Running
time: 1 hour, 37 minutes.
* In general release throughout Southern California.