Air Bud: Golden Receiver Information

Air Bud: Golden Receiver (also known as Air Bud 2) is the 1998 sequel to Air Bud. The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is also the last of the Air Bud films to be released theatrically. Outside the United States the film was often titled Air Bud 2. This film is dedicated in memory of the original Air Bud (Air Buddy), who died of Synovial sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affects soft tissue near the joints of the arm, leg, or neck in 1998, just several months before the movie's release.

Plot

Several years after becoming Buddy's legal owner, Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers), now a teenager, becomes angry when his mother, Jackie, begins dating Patrick Sullivan, the town's new veterinarian after a couple of failed dates. It all starts when Sullivan innocently tosses Josh's basketball-savvy dog, Buddy, a football one day, and he discovers that Buddy also has an uncanny ability to play the sport of football. Soon enough, Buddy begins playing on Josh's Junior High football team. Meanwhile, two Russian siblings by the names of Natalya and Popov kidnap Buddy in hopes of having him perform as the special attraction in the Russian circus while Josh runs away when Patrick proposes to his mother. His coach finds him and convinces him that just because Patrick is in his life now, he doesn't have to stop loving his father and he returns home, but Patrick is gone and Buddy is missing. The Timberwolves are forced to play the final game without Buddy and are unable to win. Buddy and the other animals manage to escape and Natalya and Popov are placed into the custody of the Russian embassy after their van falls into a lake following a chase sequence. Meanwhile, Patrick finds Buddy and takes him to the game. With the help of Buddy, the team catches up, but Buddy is tackled and taken out of the game. The Timberwolves are forced to finish the game without him and thanks to Josh and Tommy, they win. Later, Josh stops Patrick from leaving and convinces him to stay. The family later goes to a Seattle Seahawks football game and Buddy sneaks onto the field.

Cast

• Kevin Zegers as Josh Framm
• Gregory Harrison as Dr. Patrick Sullivan
• Robert Costanzo as Coach Fanelli
• Tim Conway as Fred Davis
• Dick Martin as Phil Phil
• Cynthia Stevenson as Jackie Framm (Josh's Mom)
• Nora Dunn as Natalya
• Perry Anzilotti as Popov
• Shayn Solberg as Tom Stewart
• Suzanne Ristic as Principal Salter
• Alyson MacLaren as Andrea Framm
• Alex Vlisides as Vice Principal Van Nostrane
• Simon Isherwood as the Rival Coach

Rating

Prior to the film's theatrical release, it was originally rated PG by the MPAA (as seen in the original theatrical trailer). However, by the time the film was released in theaters, it was given a G rating by the Motion Picture Association of America, making it the first Air Bud film to have been designated that rating in the United States.

Home video release

This film was released to VHS in 1998, and was later released to DVD in 2000. Walt Disney Home Video continued its line of Air Bud Special Edition DVDs with the release of Air Bud: Golden Receiver Special Edition on February 2, 2010. The special edition includes a play-by-play action exclusive Sports Channel by the Buddies (the pups of Air Bud), led by Budderball.