Phil Roberts 
Lassie: A New Adventure is the perfect uplifting family film. It offers good, clean, harmless fun to entertain the entire family.
Lassie, the lovable Collie, has had legendary adventures that have become part of pop culture. Her stories have been told through movies, books, and TV shows. Now, she is making a comeback on the big screen for the first time since the 2020 flick LASSIE COME HOME in an all-new movie designed to bring her back to the forefront. The beloved canine detective gets a modern makeover in Kaleidoscope Entertainment’s LASSIE: A NEW ADVENTURE. The new plot takes Lassie from the suburbs of America to the beautiful hills of South Tyrol in Northern Italy, a bold and exciting move.
But can the change of scenery change the generic formula used by so many of its predecessors? Or should Lassie’s latest adventure be left in the Kennel?
REVIEW
Lassie fans fear not! “Lassie: A New Adventure” is an exciting and enjoyable film for the whole family. The story takes place in the beautiful South Tyrol, which provides a refreshing change of scenery. Despite the new setting, the plot follows a familiar formula and maintains a similar tone to Lassie’s previous adventures. Unfortunately, this prevents the film from genuinely revitalizing the franchise and bringing anything fresh to the formula. However, the movie is still entertaining, and at only 90 minutes long, it won’t take up too much of your time. Overall, “Lassie: A New Adventure” is a wholesome family film promoting positive messages about the importance of family and friendship.
A CHANGE OF SCENERY
The film opens with stunning views of Northern Italy’s breathtaking landscape. The picturesque locations and rich terrain create a postcard-perfect scenery that feels epic in scale. The movie focuses on a young boy named Flo (Nico Marischka), who owns Lassie, the film’s canine protagonist. Despite his family’s plan to travel to Gran Canaria, Flo decides to spend his summer in Italy with his Aunt Cosima (Katharina Schüttler) to avoid separation from Lassie.
Flo is in good company with Cosima, who lives with her Jack Russell terrier Pippa, and her foster children Kleo and Henri. Cosima is a new foster mother, and she is enjoying her new role. However, building paternal bonds with her foster child is proving to be more challenging than she anticipated. They live on a beautiful farm that provides a peaceful and tranquil environment for them all. As time goes by, they develop strong relationships that they hope will last a lifetime. However, it soon becomes apparent that everything is not as idyllic as it seems in this forest paradise.
DOGNAPPERS
The town has been experiencing a series of dog thefts, which has left the local police puzzled. Fortunately, Lassie has arrived in town and begins investigating the case. The canine detective quickly becomes suspicious of a couple of dubious hotel employees who are always in the area when theft occurs.
What follows is a story on two fronts. Lassie and her human companions embark on a quest to uncover the mystery of the dog-nappings. Simultaneously, Flo, Kleo, and Henri learn to trust each other and form strong bonds. Moreover, Cosima’s relationship with her adopted children flourishes despite their apprehension of potential rejection. While several background characters play a role in the story, the focus is primarily on the core four, with Lassie leading the charge with her sharp wit and astute intellect.
FAMILY FUN
The Lassie TV/movie series has faced criticism for portraying its main character with an unrealistic level of intelligence and for the human actors being able to understand every bark Lassie makes. However, it seems that the creators of this film have made some changes to address these concerns. Lassie’s intelligence has been toned down in the latest iteration to be more plausible despite a few instances where her actions seem implausible, such as when she turns off the oven and prevents eggs from falling off the counter. Lassie’s behavior is generally believable. This helps maintain a sense of realism in the story while retaining the qualities that have made the franchise so popular.
HOME ALONE BADDIES
I am glad to report that the mandate in the film extends to the villains played by Dennis Mojen and Maike Jüttendonk. These villains are not just mere tokens but instead provide a comedic element that reminds me of something from Home Alone. They are genuinely funny without being cheesy, and their interactions with each other create some truly hilarious moments. Jüttendonk leads with a solid performance, adding menace. Mojen offers comedy through his character’s dog allergy. That’s right, a dog napper who has an allergy to dogs. Go figure!
FORMULAIC STORYTELLING
Although the film is entertaining, its lack of originality cannot be overlooked. The truth is that it doesn’t bring anything new to the table and follows the same formula as its predecessors. In that sense, it feels like a typical Lassie movie. However, it’s undeniable that the movie is simply a modernized version of the same old story. The strength of the film lies in its human cast and their relationships.
The movie does an excellent job of exploring the genuine fears of fostering families. This exploration is not only for children but also for parents, and it leads to some genuinely touching moments. The moral of the story is both fun and uplifting, leaving us with a sense of satisfaction when we see the characters’ relationship reach its true potential. The film subtly explores the theme of loss and sends a positive message that will resonate with everyone, which is the hallmark of a great writer at the top of their game.
VERDICT
It should be abundantly clear by now that “Lassie: A New Adventure” is the perfect uplifting family film. It offers good, clean, and harmless fun that will entertain the entire family. The movie carries wholesome messages and showcases the hilarious banter of the witless dog nappers, making it enjoyable for long-term fans and newcomers alike.
The fact that the film has been dubbed into English may discourage some viewers. However, for me, the movie has all the elements of classic Sunday afternoon TV films of the past but with a larger budget. So, head to your local cinema, grab some popcorn, and settle in for a journey into the lush forest of northern Italy. Once there, we’ll join Lassie, the world’s greatest canine super-sleuth, and bring those dastardly dog-nappers to justice.
It’s good, clean, wholesome fun for the entire family. Just don’t expect it to break the mold.
Lassie: A New Adventure is playing in cinemas everywhere from May 3rd.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
