‘Beethoven’s 2nd’ By Desson Howe Washington Post Staff Writer December 17, 1993

Director: Rod Daniel Cast: Charles Grodin; Bonnie Hunt; Nicole Tom; Christopher Castille; Sarah Rose Carr; Debi Mazar; Christopher Penn; Kevin Dunn Parental guidance suggested Compare prices for this movie Find local video stores More movie shopping Save money with NextCard Visa

It's the last scary moment in "Beethoven's 2nd," the disarming sequel to last year's popular "Beethoven." From then on, it's all sniffing, tumbling and scrambling as Beethoven -- and four new puppies -- fill the Newton household, to the long-suffering groans of patriarch Charles Grodin.

The newborns are the result of Beethoven's latest infatuation, a hot, pink-ribboned, St. Bernard called Missy. Beethoven conducts a lengthy courting session, including a doggy date at the local drive-in, where he chivalrously nuzzles a found tub of popcorn her way. Ten weeks later, Grodin's youngest kids (13-year-old Christopher Castile and 9-year-old Sarah Rose Karr) discover the hairy St. bairns in Beethoven's love nest and smuggle the wee puppies home.

When Grodin discovers the stowaway fuzzies in his basement, he tries to get rid of them. But he's up against overwhelming forces -- his family. A few guilt-trip glances from the children, particularly 15-year-old Nicholle Tom, and Dad gives up the fight.

"No, don't bring them over to me," says Grodin, as his grateful relatives and the dogs surround him. "This is a mistake!"

Grodin, incidentally, is a national comic treasure. Even within the kiddie-viewing confines of this movie, he's hysterical. Watch his face -- attempting to be polite, but unable to disguise malignant suspicion -- when he meets his daughter's weasely suitor Ashley Hamilton. Or catch his anguished expression when he finds himself teamed with Beethoven in a master-and-dog cheeseburger-eating contest.

There is a teeny bit of reality -- the PG-equivalent of near-date rape -- as budding Tom learns Hamilton's true intentions, then wisely transfers her affections to truer Danny Masterson. Meanwhile, her brother Castile, erstwhile odd man out in softball, learns how to impress a tall girl by putting down an even bigger bully. It helps in both children's cases to have Beethoven around.

Fulfilling the evil-character subplot are Cruella-ish Debi Mazar (Missy's owner) and her boorish, paunchy boyfriend (Chris Penn), who realize there's money in those pedigree offspring. Naturally, they will meet their just -- and muddy -- deserts. (Your kids, or at least those ages 5 to 10, will love that little comeuppance.)

Of course, the young pooches -- Tchaikovsky, Mo (as in Mohawk), Chubby and Dolly -- get bigger and BIGGER. They are the real stars of this movie, in a series of aaw-aren't-they-cute? moments, like the one at the end of the movie: Missy (now back with her original, nicer owner) comes to visit her offspring and (to the electric-rock spirit of "Roll Over Beethoven") those enormous babies pile down the stairs in paw-pounding slow motion. Now that's what doggie flicks are all about.

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