The film revolves around Scott Turner (Tom Hanks), a humble police officer with a strong mission. Scott tries to adopt a dead man's dog to help him find the killer. Perhaps this man will face great challenges, resulting in much domestic destruction and disorganized chaos.
The one level on which this mild children's comedy works is as an extended gross joke for 8-year-olds.
Lawrence Journal-World
August 15, 2003
A dumb idea that winds up being an entertaining buddy picture
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
October 31, 2004
So-so little comedy that's better than you'd think.
Time Out
February 09, 2006
From the moment when Hooch first appears to the strains of Strauss' 'Also sprach Zarathustra', the gags can be smelt a mile off, and the thriller elements are as hackneyed as an episode of Murder She Wrote.
The rather mechanical style of director Roger Spottiwoode (who took over the film after original director Henry Winkler departed) fails to enliven the stereotypical criminal proceedings.
