K-9: P.I.

James Belushi is back as Detective Thomas Dooley in this direct-to-video follow-up to 1989's K-9 and 1999's sequel K-911. This time out, Dooley and canine colleague Jerry Lee are retiring from the force, but can't resist one last case when they come across burglars (and a dead body) after the sayonara party. While the duo try their best to capture the criminals, Dooley ends up jailed because his newfound civilian status turns his valiant actions into interference in a federal investigation. With his pension pending until the crime is cleared up, Dooley sinks to breeding Jerry Lee and starts his own private investigator service for revenue, all the while (and against orders) gathering info to solve the big case himself. Sporting tattered gags such as bathing with Jerry Lee, or following the dog around because he ingested something (with revolting results), and lukewarm love interests for Dooley (who--not surprisingly--gets less action than Jerry Lee does), it's a wonder why they didn't--if I can mix my barnyard metaphors--put this turkey on the chopping block during the scripting stage. Animals are amusing, yes, but you can't carry a film merely on canine cuteness--let alone try to stretch it for a trilogy. Not recommended. (J. Williams)