During the filming of “Air Bud Returns”, the latest installment in the American saga about the sporting exploits of a golden retriever, director Robert Vince was amazed by the improvisational skills of the dog Roscoe. The animal suddenly became concerned in front of two actors who were in tears. The filmmaker praised the dog’s curiosity and authenticity, noting that such magical moments cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence. In the continuation of the popular “Air Bud” franchise in the United States, it was decided not to generate the canine hero with AI, unlike some other productions. The original film “Air Bud – Buddy star of baskets” released in 1997 went largely unnoticed in French-speaking countries, but in America, it marked a generation like “Lassie” or “Beethoven”. Hollywood turned it into a franchise until the early 2000s, with four other films in which the dog Buddy tried his paw at football, baseball, and beach volleyball.
Nearly 30 years after the original film, the saga is returning to its roots with a new installment expected in 2027, where a basketball-loving teenager will meet a stray golden retriever, whom he will also name Buddy. Roscoe, one of the dogs employed for this reboot, eagerly takes on the role, dressed in a jersey and basketball shoes. At CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Robert Vince delighted in the emotional connection between the dog and human actors, emphasizing the importance of human emotion in films.
Vince, who co-wrote, produced, and directed the film, chose to focus on the emotional connection with the characters, avoiding the use of special effects despite his expertise in that field. He acknowledged the nostalgia of former fans who grew up with the original film and ensured that the new movie stayed true to the promise of no CGI. He believes that cinematic innovations should enhance the story without replacing the performers, whether human or animal. This sentiment is shared by prestigious award bodies like the Oscars and Golden Globes, which recently issued rules to make actors generated by AI ineligible for their awards. Despite industry fears, Vince believes that a complete replacement by AI is not imminent, if ever, as it lacks emotional connection.
Published on May 10 at 9:53 AM by AFP.
