Soccer Dog: The Movie

This family comedy follows the familiar premise of a misfit kid who befriends an extraordinary animal and learns to be happy. In this case, the kid is a soccer-loving orphan who feels like an outcast at the orphanage where he lives. When he meets a dog who is very good at playing soccer, he uses the new friendship as a way to solve his social problems. In the process, the boy and the dog must contend with the story's villains, including a mean headmaster and a sinister dogcatcher. The film stars James Marshall, Olivia d'Abo and Jeremy Foley. A sequel, Soccer Dog: European Cup, was released in 2004.