Assistant District Attorney Dave Douglas’ (Tim Allen) life is passing him by; he’s just too clueless to notice. While everything looks perfect on the surface, underneath trouble is brewing. Wife Rebecca (Kristin Davis) is worried he’s becoming self-possessed, daughter Carly (Zena Grey) is infuriated that he won’t take the time to listen to her and son Josh (Spencer Breslin) is purposely failing math just so he won’t have to admit he hates playing football.

To top it off, Dave’s just started prosecuting his daughter’s favorite teacher for attempting to burn down a successful pharmaceutical research company. Not really caring if the corporation’s spokesman Dr. Kozak (Robert Downey Jr.) is telling him the whole truth or not, the attorney knows if he’s successful nailing the teacher it’s very likely he’ll be a shoe-in to replace his retiring mentor and friend Ken Hollister (Danny Glover) as District Attorney. Something has to open Dave’s eyes to the truth, and that something better happen quickly or the lawyer’s family might just say enough is enough and write him off as a lost cause.

Enter a shaggy 300-year-old Tibetan Sheepdog freshly escaped from Dr. Kozak’s clutches. Thanks to a minor bite, Dave literally turns into a dog, this new puppyish persona crashing into his personal and professional life at all the wrong moments. Through newfound canine eyes, Dave must now discover the truth behind Dr. Kozak’s mysterious experiments while also repairing the damage he’s done to his family. Time’s running out, and if Dave’s not careful he could be running on all fours as the family dog permanent.

A remake of the 1959 Fred MacMurray classic, Disney’s “The Shaggy Dog” is both thoroughly unnecessary and surprisingly entertaining. In fact, for the twelve and under crowd this four-legged comedy is a hit. The script is shockingly decent, doling out morals just about anyone could get behind. Better, it doesn’t preach, actually letting people speak their minds and talk things out like real people, not cliché cartoons the likes of which you usually find in family features such as this one.

Not that director Brian Robbins keeps things going like this beginning to end. There are interminable stretches of juvenile behavior and sophomoric humor that would even make Adam Sandler blush. The last twenty minutes, in particular, are almost unbearable, Robbins letting things fly so completely off the rails that, unless you’re in elementary school, it’s almost a guarantee you’ll want to get up and exit the theater.

Still, “The Shaggy Dog” circa 2006 does have to be seen through the eyes of a child. As such, it’s really difficult to be too harsh. Allen doesn’t overact as obnoxiously as you’d expect (although he still goes over-the-top a few too many times), Davis managed at least two scenes where I was reminded how much I adored her in “Sex and the City” and Grey and Breslin are priceless as the children. Better, there is a real innocence to the first half that’s actually kind of touching, and if I had kids of my own it is hard for me to think I wouldn’t be content letting them attend a mid-afternoon screening of this.

Adults, on the other hand, while they won’t suffer too greatly they would still be better off finding their entertainment elsewhere. Downey, Glover, Jane Curtin (who looks bored) and Philip Baker Hall (who deserves better) are clearly slumming, each of them going through the motions so mechanically it’s a given the only reason they’re involved is to pick up a quick paycheck. Worse, the whole thing feels pointless and unnecessary, especially if you’re even remotely familiar with the far fresher (and much funnier) original.

So it’s a mixed bag at best, but a mixed bag is still better than Disney’s horrendous trailers and commercials would have led a person to believe. Kids will certainly adore it, which, after all, is probably the point. Meanwhile, adults won’t feel burned, and considering both Allen and the studio’s recent track records it’s almost enough to schedule a celebration. Is that a recommendation? No, not really, but, at least from me, this shrugging shoulders ambivalence is easily the juiciest bone “The Shaggy Dog” could ever hope to get.

Film Rating: êê1/2  (out of 4)