Smitty (film)

2012 American film

April 10, 2012 (2012-04-10)

Running time

94 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglish

Smitty is a 2012 American family drama film directed by David Mickey Evans and starring Mira Sorvino, Peter Fonda and Louis Gossett Jr.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Plot

Amanda leaves her son Ben with her estranged father Jack, a grumpy Iowa farmer, after he gets in trouble too many times in Chicago. Jack successfully straightens the boy out with good food, farm chores, and a dog; the dog's former owners could not afford to keep him, and Ben names him after Mr. Smith, a wise storekeeper who befriends him.

Cast

Peter Fonda as Jack
Mira Sorvino as Amanda
Brandon Tyler Russell [it] as Ben
Louis Gossett Jr. as Mr. Smith
Jason London as Russell
Gabrielle Bui as Tia
Booboo Stewart as Peebo
Lolita Davidovich as Judge Greenstein

Production

Filming occurred in Iowa.^[5]

Release

The film premiered at the WorldFest-Houston International Film/Video Festival in April 2012.^[6]

Reception

Tracey Moore of Common Sense Media awarded the film three stars out of five.^[7] Nancy Adamson of the Midland Reporter-Telegram graded the film a C.^[8]

Duane Byrge of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a positive review and wrote, “...but there is a great big Middle American audience out there for this heartfelt entertainment.“^[9]

References

^ Barton, Steve (28 June 2017). "Poltergeist Star Has a Celebrity Crush". Dread Central. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
^ "American Humane Association Seeking Entries in Smitty's Shelter Dog Art Contest". Business Wire. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
^ Caouette, Danielle (14 March 2012). "SMITTY Red Carpet Movie Premiere and Charity Event OPEN to the public!". Patch Media. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
^ Mcgrath, Rachel (23 March 2012). "Movie screening event helps support shelter pet store". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
^ Pierri, Vince (9 December 2009). "Gurnee teen finding fame in Hollywood". Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois). Retrieved 1 July 2020.
^ Parks, Louis B. (11 April 2012). "WorldFest-Houston features a world of films". The Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
^ Moore, Tracey. "Smitty". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
^ Adamson, Nancy (18 July 2012). "Clever, hilarious Swedish film beats the competition for this week's top pick". Midland Reporter-Telegram. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
^ Byrge, Duane (October 14, 2010). "Smitty -- Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. AP. Retrieved March 6, 2019.