Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- playful
- sunny
- family movie night
- lazy weekend
What critics said
Critics generally viewed it as polished, diverting Disney family farce with a clever enough premise, though its repetitive transformations and uneven pacing limited its laughs.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The ancient ring causes Wilby's transformation and becomes central after it is stolen from a museum.
Lawyer and district attorney candidate Wilby Daniels repeatedly becomes a dog despite his family and civic responsibilities.
The film emphasizes pratfalls, athletic dog antics, a pie fight, and comic attempts to make the dog talk.
Wilby's magical curse intersects with his law practice, family life, police complaints, and campaign for district attorney.
Films like The Shaggy D.A., and why
The Shaggy Dog
family-friendly live-action fantasy comedy built around an adult protagonist transformed into a dog
The Absent-Minded Professor
disney family comedy combining magical transformation, domestic chaos, and broad physical humor
The Cat from Outer Space
lighthearted disney fantasy comedy centered on an adult navigating an impossible magical predicament
Movie Details
- Director
- Robert Stevenson
- Release Date
- 1976-12-17
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (88)
Cast
- Dean Jones
- Suzanne Pleshette
- Tim Conway
- Keenan Wynn
- Jo Anne Worley
- Dick Van Patten
- Shane Sinutko
- Vic Tayback
- John Myhers
- Richard Bakalyan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Shaggy D.A. about?
- A principled family man launches a campaign against corruption while an ancient ring keeps turning him into an unruly dog.
- What is The Shaggy D.A. like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Shaggy D.A. as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is The Shaggy D.A. violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Shaggy D.A..
- What did critics think of The Shaggy D.A.?
- Critics generally viewed it as polished, diverting Disney family farce with a clever enough premise, though its repetitive transformations and uneven pacing limited its laughs.
- Which films are like The Shaggy D.A.?
- Films with a similar feel include The Shaggy Dog, The Absent-Minded Professor, and The Cat from Outer Space.
- How long is The Shaggy D.A.?
- The Shaggy D.A. runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Shaggy D.A.?
- In United States, The Shaggy D.A. streams on Disney Plus.
