this be a simple and straightforward film and about a family move away from the city and to start a new life in a small country town . after be subject to bully and sam docherty and play with absolutely no emotion by matt mccoy and be force to make the right decision and testify in court against them . within ten minute and the family have move house and and the eldest daughter be ask where the near mall be . at a small garage and courtney spot the guy who predictably will later become her love interest . upon pay for their good and their credit card be decline and and you know from that point on that this entire movie be go to be predictable . within 25 minute we be introduce the customary ` best friend and in the form of an adorable dog and whom it be decide be a stray and with no apparent regard for any owner it may have be fortunate to have . enter sam new neighbour and ` gil and play by billy kay . it be instantly apparent that he be a troublemaker . he have a the stereotypical pierce ear of all young hoodlum . what follow be a feeble attempt at their bullying of sam and follow by a feigned friendship in the hope of become closer to the beautiful courtney . we also meet an elderly and slightly eccentric lady with a pie to greet the family . what follow be a tired and formulaic tale of a boy and his bully and his ever faithful dog . ` earring boy and pick on sam and be chase away by the dog and which look for all the world like it will lick him death . father of earring bully decides i do not want you hangin round new kid . shortly after this point we learn that his mother die . father raise him alone . blah . blah . the scene of them climb the fence and with scared fat kid be scar may well have be steal from stand by me . the fairground scene equally predictable and nauseating a we see the romantic interest blossom and while bad kid steal firework and and you just know sumthin bad be gon na happen there even a bridge cross reminiscent of sbm and at which point bad earring boy fall into lake and be naturally save by boy and just before they all go over the waterfall that wasn not there 2 minute ago and and the dog have disappear only to make the customary reappearance at the end of the film when everything turn out happily ever after and the good and bad all become friend and and while play chess ( the way new best buddy always do ) and along come baddie daddy and with a peace offering and and a hearty welcome and along come doggie to be greet with absolutely no emotion by kid and and they all live happily ever after . from start to finish and this film be tire and predictable . even the usually outstanding paul franklin dano and billy kay can not pull this film into life and a the scripting and direction be appal . this be bland and predictable and formulaic . it be a genuine torture to watch . there be thousand of movie in this genre and and nearly all do a much good job . if youre look for a decent appy family film and look elsewhere . lassie and with tom guiry and be a much more enjoyable film and and while as predictable a most of these film be and be at least play out with some passion and enthusiasm . this film draw heavily on stereotype and religious belief and and family value and in a lame attempt to cobble something remotely resemble a story . by the end of the film and the only thing more tired than myself be the film itself . good point . it a rather nice dog . most definitely not recommend view while a total disappointment from start to finish . ollie .