Watch Air Bud: Spikes Back

Air Bud: Spikes Back is a 2003 comedy sports film that is directed by Mike Southon, and written by Robert Vince and Anne Vince. It is the fourth installment in the popular Air Bud movie franchise. The film follows the lovable golden retriever Buddy as he sets his sights on a new sport - volleyball. The movie opens with Buddy's owner Josh Framm (Kevin Zegers) and his family moving to Washington state. Josh's father, Patrick (Darren J. Birch), is a professor who has been hired by a local university and they have moved into a new home. While exploring the woods behind their house, Buddy comes across a group of boys playing volleyball. Fascinated by the sport, Buddy starts to practice on his own, quickly learning the ins and outs of the game.

Soon, Josh and his new friend, Tom (Tyler Boissonnault), join Buddy on the court and form a team. They are soon approached by a local volleyball coach, Arthur Chaney (J. Winston Carroll), who convinces them to enter a tournament against some of the best teams in the state.

As the tournament draws near, Buddy injures his paw, putting the team's chances of winning in jeopardy. But with some help from Josh's little sister Andrea (Caitlin Wachs), who has a talent for healing injured animals, Buddy is back in shape just in time for the big game.

Throughout the film, the bond between Josh and Buddy is shown in numerous heartwarming moments. Whether it's playing volleyball together, or just hanging out, the two share a close bond that is a central theme of the movie.

Aside from the volleyball tournament, the film also touches upon issues such as bullying and cheating, as the opposing team resorts to dirty tactics in order to win.

The performances in the movie are solid, especially from the young actors who play Josh and Tom. Birch and Carroll both provide solid support as the older authority figures, while Buddy steals the show with his natural charisma and athleticism.

The movie is filled with fun volleyball sequences that showcase Buddy's impressive skills on the court. The soundtrack is upbeat and matches the movie's overall tone perfectly.

Overall, Air Bud: Spikes Back is an entertaining family film that delivers laughs and heartwarming moments in equal measure. It may not be groundbreaking cinema, but it proves that even a movie about a dog playing volleyball can be a whole lot of fun.

Air Bud: Spikes Back is a 2003 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 27 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.1.