K-9000 (1991)

A couple of genetically fortunate leads, some smart-aleck but sappy dialogue from hot writer Steven de Souza (Die Hard, Die Hard 2), decent production values, and a talking telepathic pooch make K-9000's made-for-video fluff almost watchable. Almost. Twin Peaks' Chris Mulkey, playing a renegade cop, and Dynasty's Catherine Oxenberg, as a New Age scientist, appear embarrassed as they try to save the world by preventing a secret genetic experiment from getting into the wrong paws. Even K-9000, the chatty computerized German shepherd, looks lost. This film tries to capitalize on the recent rental successes of such canine capers as Turner and Hooch and K-9, but is K-9000 an action-packed shoot-out, a tongue-in-cheek comedy, or sentimental sci-fi? Answer: none of the above.