Saving Shiloh

The third film based on a wildly successful trilogy of children's books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Saving Shiloh is tailor-made entertainment for kids and not half bad for adults, completing the saga of young Marty Preston (played by Jason Dolley) and his beloved beagle, Shiloh. Here, Marty's neighbor, Judd Travers (Scott Wilson)—Shiloh's abusive former owner—is implicated in a local murder case, but while his mistreatment of dogs has made him unpopular within the community, that shouldn't be enough to condemn him as a killer. At least, that's what Marty believes, and even though his attempts to prove Judd innocent bear some fruit, they also end up putting both him and Shiloh in danger. Gerald McRaney and Ann Dowd, playing Marty's parents, provide sturdy support for Dolley, but it's Wilson who rates top acting honors—his character is a profoundly troubled human being who inches his way back to decency and respectability only to find himself suspected and castigated by the very community he's trying to rejoin. Recommended. [Note: DVD extras include 17 minutes of interviews with the cast and filmmakers, an “interview” with canine star “Shiloh” (3 min.), the “Open Your Heart” music video by Dayna Lane, and trailers. Bottom line: a small but solid extras package for a winsome family film.] (E. Hulse)