Beethoven

Beethoven is a 1992 American family comedy film, directed by Brian Levant and starring Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Dean Jones, Oliver Platt and Stanley Tucci. It is the first installment of the Beethoven film series. The film was written by John Hughes (under the pseudonym Edmond Dantès) and Amy Holden Jones. Its story centers on a St. Bernard dog named after the German composer of the same name and owned by the Newton family. Plot A group of puppies are stolen from a pet store by two thieves. A St. Bernard puppy escapes and sneaks into the Newton family's home. The workaholic father, George, does not want the responsibility of owning a dog, but his wife, Alice, and their children, Ryce, Ted, and Emily, encourage him. They give him the name "Beethoven" when Emily plays a portion of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony on the piano and he barks along to it. Beethoven grows into a fully grown young adult and helps Ryce, Ted, and Emily overcome their problems: he helps Ryce talk to a boy she has a crush on, scares off bullies for harming Ted, and saves Emily's life when she falls into an irresponsible babysitter's swimming pool. George, jealous of the affection Beethoven receives, feels neglected as his family fawns over him. His antics ruin a barbecue he is hosting for Brad and Brie Wilson, unpleasant venture capitalists looking to invest and swindle him out of his car air freshener firm.