Taglines: Get ready for mush hour!
When Miami dentist Ted Brooks learns that his birth mother has passed away and that he was named in her will, he travels to Alaska to claim his inheritance. Rather than the large chunk of change that many people would expect, Ted instead receives his mother’s pack of rowdy sled dogs and her property. Although the dogs seemingly have it in for Ted, he decides to keep the dogs and race them in the local race, the Arctic Challenge, spiting a mountain man who wants the dogs. What follows is a comedy detailing Ted’s adventures in learning to run the sled dogs.
Snow Dogs is a 2002 American Northern adventure comedy film directed by Brian Levant, and starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and James Coburn. The film was released in the United States on January 18, 2002 by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is inspired by the book Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod by Gary Paulsen.
The film’s budget was US$33 million. Canmore, Alberta, Canada was used to film the fictional city of Tolketna, Alaska. The dogs D.J., Koda, Floyd and Buck also starred in the adventure film, Eight Below. Many of the dogs and mushers used in the film were locals. Two of the hero team doubles and all of Olivier’s team were supplied by Nakitsilik Siberians of Bridge Lake, British Columbia.
Mountain Mushers’ from Golden BC supplied the Thunder Jack team. Old Ernie’s team was supplied by Russ Gregory from Calgary, Alberta. Arcticsun Siberian Husky Kennel from Edmonton, Alberta was one of many kennels — including Czyz, Snowy Owl, Gatt racing — from the area that supplied background for the film. Two of the dogs came from Kortar Kennels, in Ontario. The animatronic effects were designed and built by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The special effects were provided by The Secret Lab, the special effects division of Disney.
Snow Dogs (2002)
Directed by: Brian Levant
Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., James Coburn, Joanna Bacalso, Nichelle Nichols, Graham Greene, M. Emmet Walsh, Joanna Bacalso, Jean Michel Paré, Alison Matthews, Frank C. Turner
Screenplay by: Gary Paulsen, Jim Kouf, Michael Goldberg
Production Design by: Stephen J. Lineweaver
Cinematography by: Stephen J. Lineweaver
Costume Design by: Monique Prudhomme
Set Decoration by: Elizabeth Wilcox
Art Direction by: Doug Byggdin
Makeup Department: Stacye Branche, Melina Calogiros, Angelina Cameron
Music by: John Debney
MPAA Rating: PG for mild crude humor.
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
Release Date: January 18, 2002
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