Ardave Laurente Grade 12 STEM – Zeolite July 30, 2018

BENJI
SUMMARY

Benji (2018) is all about a dog who decided to find his home and a righteous owner after being
orphaned by his family. He journeyed all through the cities and found himself in a school where he
met Carter Hughes. Carter is a young boy which happens to live with his younger sister, Frankie, and
a policewoman mother, Whitney. Carter saw the dog and tried feeding it with strawberries until he met
his sister on his way to a pawnshop. The pawnshop owner, Sam King, then revealed that the kids
always come to his shop to retrieve their father’s watch that was sold by their mother. Because the
kids didn’t have enough money to take back the watch, he refused to give it to the kids forcing them
to just go home, not knowing that the dog is still tailing them.

The moment when the kids arrived home, the dog has also finished following them. Frankie
discovered the dog and Carter was shocked about how the dog was still able to follow them. The kids
then took the dog and put it to bath, and later, named it to Benji. Frankie was hesitant on the idea that
they will be keeping the dog with them for they know that their mother will never allow him living there.
At first, they managed to keep Benji without their mother knowing but soon, Whitney realized that they
were hiding this dog from her. She immediately told the kids that she does not support the idea of
having a dog in their house hurting their feelings and left with no other choice but to free Benji.

Benji once again became homeless. The kids are now focused on school and saving money
for retrieving their father’s watch. On the other hand, Benji would always wait outside their campus
with a strawberry on its mouth showing how he missed both the kids so much. Later, the kids went
back to the pawnshop again to ask for the watch, but later did they know that the shop was under a
robbery. The kids were kidnapped and the shop owner, Sam was tied. At this point, Benji overheard
Frankie’s cries and voice. He instinctively found out about what had happened.

Benji immediately followed the vehicle that the kids were on. Carter saw Benji and luckily,
there were strawberries inside the vehicle and he used it to call Benji’s attention and lead him the
way. Benji successfully reached the place where the kidnappers brought the kids. Unfortunately, the
kidnappers found out about Benji and started chasing Benji with the help of their own dog. Benji had
nothing else to do but to ask for help so he went back to the pawnshop to free Sam. Sam immediately
called the police for what happened, especially Whitney. Whitney was shocked when Sam told him
that the reason for why the kids were there was because of the watch. Then, Whitney saw Benji that
seems to be giving them signals about the kid’s location. The police and Sam then went to follow
Benji.

When the police arrived at the house in which Benji leads them to, they were disappointed
when they saw no one inside. Benji was confused upon knowing that the kidnappers and the kids are
gone. Later did he realize that there was a secret passageway to the underground of the house. But
when he was about to signal the police and Whitney, they were enraged by how Benji wasted their
time for nothing. They immediately went back to finding clues and leads, leaving Benji behind.

Without the results of having the kids back, Whitney became hopeless as she reminisces her
memories with her kids. She shed tears as she watches the video of the kids when they were putting
Benji to bath. There, Whitney realized that in a short period of time, Benji became so compassionate
with her kids. Without any other doubts, she called the police to help her again.
 On the other hand, Benji did not lose hope and still managed to ask for help from another dog
that he lured with food. With the help of his newly found friend, the two of them managed to get inside
the secret basement under the house and started looking for the kids. Meanwhile, the kidnappers
started to get rid of possible signs the kids may leave for Benji. They brought the kids to a pier and
planned to put them away there.

Whitney and the police managed to get inside the secret basement and immediately got some
clue on where to find the kids. They went to the same pier where the kidnappers brought the kids and
later found out about the kidnapper’s disguising as workers there. Benji and his friend also helped to
rescue the kids but, on the process, when Benji was about to attack one of the kidnappers, he was
thrown to the wall and was left unconscious. The kidnappers were later forced to surrender, and
Whitney was able to get her kids back. Still, Benji is unconscious which made the kids and Whitney
cry for anguish. A moment later, they cried for joy when Benji started to open his eyes.

In the end, the kidnappers were arrested, the watch was returned to the kids, and Benji was
accepted by Whitney. The kids were joyful for what had happened. Benji also found his beloved dog-
partner.

REACTION

Upon hearing the title, I was a bit disappointed that this movie, just like most of the other dog
movies, contains this typical ‘dog’s name-title’. Then, I judged the movie by looking at the cover page
of the CD and I think that it will be another overused theme. I decided to set apart these assumptions
as the movie started. I was getting all my hopes up that the makers of this film have made innovations
to this clichéd-type of film.

The movie started, I was caught-off-guard when they hyped the viewers by moving their hearts
as they explained how the dog became an orphan. I haven’t prepared myself for it coming so early.
After that scene, the events on the movie seemed to be very fast for me. It also looked unrealistic
especially when they added situations where only Benji is the solution and it is never practical and
truthful.

I was also unsatisfied to the part where Carter was bullied in the school because I thought it
can be used in the plot and it seemed like it is just a filler for the story. I was also kind of disappointed
when the kids were easily attached to the dog after a single moment of taking a bath and playing with
each other. Also, leaving strawberries as ‘breadcrumbs’ is also not convincing for me. They also did
not take time on telling the story about Whitney’s husband and the story behind the watch. For me, I
think things became so predictable.

Nevertheless, I appreciated how they emphasized the dog’s love for his owners. The movie
was indeed emotional but a bit boring. The dog’s cuteness and clever mind also is a ‘WOW’ for me.
Benji is a good movie and it is enjoyable to watch, especially for those dog lovers. Our reactions may
not be similar, but we are all touched by the point of the movie – the real essence of being a family.