Made and released in the United States back in 2006, Fido sneaks its way into the UK under the radar and sadly going straight to DVD, why I hear you cry? Well it's not because it bad, as is often the case the problem with Fido is that it provide a challenge for the British Board Of Film Classification. Aspects of the movie just were too difficult for the BBFC to accept under similar certification as was suggested in the US. Fido takes a simple family movie and spins it sharply on its axis replacing man's best friend with a zombie.

After the fall of space dust the dead came back to life and became flesh eating zombies, those that die or those that are eaten too become zombies very much like any other zombie movie. The premise of Fido is that a renowned scientist desperate not to be parted from his wife created a collar that domesticates a zombie allowing them to be a pet cum servant. In this alternate version of 1950's America a sign of status is the possession of one or more zombies, something the Robinson family does not possess. In an attempt to keep up with the Jones' Helen Robinson (Carrie Anne Moss) purchases a zombie who later becomes named Fido (Billy Connelly).

Fido focuses on relationships chiefly, most notably in this case the relationship between young Timmy (K'Sun Ray) his zombie Fido, and then in turn his unusual relationship with his father Bill (Dylan Baker) and his mother Helen. With the exception of Timmy's relationship with Fido, all other encounters are initially dysfunctional; but the movies big story is all about change, those that can make change and those that are incapable.

Fido is a strange combination, it's so much a family movie and then Connelly's Fido goes off on one tearing someone's limbs off and devouring them, even with this sudden downbeat turn and the sight of dismemberment there is no real gore, nothing to really offend its audience, I'd happily let a child of any age watch this if they so felt the need, I see no difference between this and a movie like Free Willy.

Rather like some of the more recent Disney or Pixar movies, Fido has a special humour about it while younger audiences will see the movie in a perfectly innocent light, older viewers will be able to read between certain lines and see far more adult jokes carefully sandwiched into the most innocent of conversations. It's this aspect as well as the innocent child like aspects of the movie that make Fido such a striking and enjoyable movie.

When not charming you with its humour, or alternate storyline the next endearing feature is the wonderfully idyllic 50's setting. From the vehicles, locations, and sets you long to live in the town this movie is set in. When not charmed by the beautiful lifestyles and magnificently 50's furnishings your captivated by the movies music, it's a strange thing to understand that Fido is set in the same year as 1985's Back To The Future but the musical tastes are dramatically miles apart. Fido is filled with Twee post war style music, while Back To The Future focuses on the birth of Rock and Roll, an aspect that seems a million miles away from Fido. Add this unusually kitsch score to some unusual set pieces of devouring granny, or catch with a zombie and the picture starts to become complete.

I loved Fido, I enjoyed the humour, and especially the storyline that takes George Romero's Night Of The Living Dead and makes it gospel, as if it was a real event. While nobody can question the performances of Billy Connelly who literally plays untrained dog for the most part, Moss or Day; the movies most enjoyable role is take by Murder One's Dylan Baker as the uncomfortable father of Timmy. As the pieces of the story assemble you get to understand the reason why Bill behaves the way he does, and at the same time feel his need to belong to something more, and be seen in a different light. If you can find it in your heart to dismiss Fido as a horror movie you'll find yourself on very familiar child friendly ground, the horror category being something that was only generalised at the time of certification and the unfamiliarity of the movie on UK audiences due to the lack of publicity surrounding the piece. And even now the movie is deprived of the acclaim it deserves, there were no reviewers discs circulating the movie went straight to general DVD release, which I suspect could be the reason why you might be hearing about Fido for the first time.

If you enjoyed the Tim Burton version of Batman, Beetlejuice, Willy Wonka, and Call Of The Wild you are sure to enjoy Fido.

All of the children attending got tiaras or pirate eye patches, sparkling apple cider in fancy decorated champagne flutes, cotton candy, and fresh buttered popcorn. Everyone waited in anticipation for the stars of the show to make their appearance. Excitement mounted as the guests were served fabulous treats while they waited. Suddenly, little girls and boys exploded with excitement as the stars of the movie arrived in their very own Hummer decked out in Abbygail decor. One-by-one, they made their way down the red carpet, stopping to greet and get a pet by everyone along the way.

Excitedly, guests filed into the theater to watch “The Tails of Abbygail”. Before the show, Terri Lynn and Al Link, the creators of “The Tails of Abbygail”, along with “friends of the cast” greeted the crowd again, and spoke about how important this film is to children everywhere.

Suddenly, the lights went out, and the show began, and that's where we met Abbygail, a curious Jack Russell Terrier who wishes her toy friends would come to life and play with her. We watched as they did, and went on a grand adventure filled with fun, life lessons, and even buried treasure. The first of its series, “The Tails of Abbygail” was fun and lighthearted with serious undertones encouraging things like water safety and stranger danger.

After the show, guests were invited to a private tea party where the magic kept on going. Each child was given a gift bag as they left the theater that was filled with treats, a “paw-ta-graphed” poster, and even a copy of the DVD!

Terri Lynn Link, a successful Oregon business owner, was sitting around her pool one day when she noticed her dogs playing in the sunshine. They were making people smile. Suddenly, she had an idea, and "The Tails of Abbygail" was born. It has been endorsed and approved by KIDS FIRST- The Coalition for Quality Children's Media, was the official selection of KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, the largest festival for children's films, in 2008, and won a Bronze Statue in the 29th Annual Telly Awards.

I had a chance to meet up with Terry Lynn after the show to have her autograph our DVD's and posters, and I have to say, she has created something special!! If you haven't gotten a chance to see "The Tails of Abbygail", please check it out at www.weloveabby.com

The film follows the story of Dave Douglas (Tim Allen), a district attorney hopeful who gets bitten by a 300 year old dog (kidnapped from Tibet) that has escaped from an illegal animal research facility with the help of Dave's daughter. The facility however, is run by the evil Dr. Kozak (Downey Jr.) who Dave just happens to be representing in court. Hilarity ensues (or is supposed to) when Dave transforms into a dog himself for half his waking hours, and then, as half-dog, half-man, has to expose Dr. Kozak for the nasty piece of work that he is, while saving his ailing marriage and regaining the trust of his two kids.

Now I know this is a film aimed at children (the little brat kicking the back of my seat all the way through the movie was enough to confirm this) but surely Disney can come up with something better than this dogged affair. By the end of the film I felt like I'd experienced "movie by numbers", with Disney simply crossing Dr. Doolittle with a scaled down version of Cheaper by the Dozen. There's even a slight nod to Toy Story, with Dave Douglas in pooch form yelling Buzz Lightyear's overused catchphrase, “To infinity and beyond,” while performing mild doggie acrobatics.

Fortunately for Disney, the children love it. Becky and Hamish (not the harsh critics I thought they were) laughed throughout the whole thing and even managed to stop hitting each other for the duration of the movie. Their favorite scene (if you really want to know) involved Dave Douglas in semi human state chasing a ginger moggy into an alleyway. Personally, I think the three year old sitting in front of me had better taste, as he spent the entire movie blissfully passed out with his head on a rather attractive girl's lap (I'm still hoping she was his babysitter and not his mum).

If you've got kids of your own, then take them to this movie and they'll laugh their socks off but if you're childless like me, then this is one dog that unfortunately needs to be put down.

4/10