The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation

Between the constant churn of new releases, The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation in the US on Amazon Prime Video and Hoopla is the comedy actually worth stopping for. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 4/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Mario López is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation earns its spot. The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. The Bannister family including former K-9 police hero Zeus (voiced by Mario López) is back, and this time they're spending their holidays at a beautiful Rocky Mountain resort. But toss in an unexpected visit from cocky Uncle Randy (Casper Van Dien of 'Watch Over Me' and 'The Curse of King Tut's Tomb') and his foxy poodle Bella (voiced by Paris Hilton) and a familiar pair of bumbling jewel thieves (led by Dean Cain of 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventure of Superman' and 'The Dog Who Saved Christmas') and this holiday may be headed downhill fast! Can Zeus solve the crime, save Bella and hit the slopes, all in time for Christmas Day? Between them, Mario López and Dean Cain carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It hit screens in 2013. The timing in The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation respects your intelligence. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Mario López sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.

The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation was released in 2013, directed by Michael Feifer. The full 89-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.