I remember seeing this movie in the theater as a kid. It was fun family movie time for us. Most people don't realize however that this movie is sequel to 2 other movies. The first was "the shaggy dog" followed by (if i recall correctly)"the shaggy dog returns". The character from the first 2 is all grown up in the "shaggy DA". (the Tim Allen remake movie is sort of a combination of the earlier movies.) The original movie is out on VHS and DVD, But I've only seen the 2nd one (old black and white) twice, decades ago on TV -never on home video. It must still be locked in the Disney vault. Hopefully they will release a complete 3 movie set for my daughter's generation to see and enjoy these classic movies.

Typical Disney 70's fare with the usual cast (Jones, Conway, Wynn) associated with the studio at the time, here focusing on the kid from the original "Shaggy Dog" 1959 movie, all grown up (Jones) and still having issues with his canine transformations. Crooked senator Wynn is determined to get his hands on the magic ring that will enable the metamorphosis, but predictably, the old dog has a few new tricks up his sleeve to counter every attempt.Conway plays the ice-cream vendor caught up in the calamities, Vic Tayback as a racketeer in cahoots with Wynn, and Dick Van Patten has a minor role as Wynn's chauffeur. The sultry Suzanne Pleshette plays Jones' domestic retreat, despite having little to offer the film, still adds a much needed spark.No surprises, it's inoffensive (a bit of gun-play, but no actual violence) slapstick comedy that would appeal to the young family audience.

This movie was probably never considered anything more than another silly mid-70s Disney slapstick comedy, but it is pretty fun and funny. I love Dean Jones in films like THE LOVE BUG and THE UGLY DACHSHUND, and he is great here as well as the adult Wilby Daniels, who has grown into an happily married husband and father, as well as an idealist lawyer.After he becomes fed up with the rash of organized crime in his town, Daniels is persuaded to run for district attorney, against the corrupt John Slade. I really like Keenan Wynn as an actor too, but in this he seemed more sinister than funny, and was more fun in HERBIE RIDES AGAIN and THE GREAT RACE. Still, he makes for a great villain, evil and calculating.Tim Conway, Suzanne Pleshette, Ronnie Schell (sp?), Dick Van Patten, Hans Conried and Joanne Worley add to a film that is a bit more lighthearted than the prequel of 1959.

This is not a true sequel to the 1959 original starring Tommy Kirk as a teen-aged Wilby Daniels. By that I mean it doesn't continue the same story line. This time, Dean Jones is the adult Wilby Daneils. When his house is robbed-not once-but twice-he decides enough is enough and decides to run for DA.From the outset Wilby is faced with two problems-first, is to try to defeat the incumbent DA-Honest John Slade(Keenan Wynn). John Slade is anything but honest-he is allowing crooks off the hook by not prosecuting them or letting them off easy. One of these crooks is Eddie Roschak(Vic Tayback-in a much more realistic portrayal of a bad guy than in "No deposit, no Return").Wilby's Second and much more serious problem-is that the "Borger" ring has been stolen from the museum-and whenever someone reads the inscription on the ring-Wilby is transformed in to a shaggy dog-that belongs to "Tim-the ice cream man"(Tim Conway). THe dog's name is "Elwood" Wilby's Wife is Betty(Suzanne Pleshette)and they have a son, whom I call the wisecracking "Brian"(Shane Sinutko). His wife becomes his campaign manager.John Slade gets hold of the ring and tries to blackmail Daneils out of the race by threatening to keep reading the inscription on the ring over & over again to keep Daniels as a dog. Of course he ignores the warning the museum curator gives-if you read the inscription too many times-you may turn into a dog your self.Wilby, Brian & Tim are on a mission to get the ring back from Slade and his gang of crooks. Do they succeed? You will need to see the film to find out.The pie fight is so funny. There are plenty of funny moments and gags in this movie. This is one of the better comedies offered by Disney in the 70's.So, why do I vote 8 instead of 10? Well-the movie doesn't answer the questions I have: 1. Why is it that Wilby Daneils is turned into a dog himself? Why not someone else? 2. Does Daneils descend from the Borger Family, and is he a victim of a family curse? I know that in the 1959 original-Daneils finds the ring and he reads the inscription and turns into a dog. That maybe the answer-but the fact remains-not everyone who reads the inscription turns into a dog. I think there must be something else-a family trait or curse or something that only happens to Daniels and no one else.Overall, this is a real good movie with a fine cast and directed by Disney's Ledgendary director Robert Stevenson.