The Shaggy Dog 2006

As Wilby Daniels (played by) and his family return from their vacation, they’re met with a rude awakening - their home has been burgled not once, but twice. The first time, Wilby’s frustration is palpable as he points the finger at district attorney John Slade, rumored to have ties to organized crime. The second break-in, which targets both the Daniels’ and their naval neighbor Gordon C. Brenner, pushes Wilby to his limits. He decides to take a stand and announce his candidacy for district attorney, vowing to restore safety to the town of Medfield.

Meanwhile, two hapless thieves, Freddie and Dip, get their hands on the Borgia ring at a local museum, convinced it’s worth a pretty penny. They pawn it off to Tim, an ice cream vendor with a soft spot for his Old English Sheepdog, Elwood. Tim plans to gift the ring to his roller derby-star-turned-pastry-assistant girlfriend, Katrinka.

As Wilby prepares for his live television debut, he confides in his wife Betty about his former life as a shape-shifter. However, she’s skeptical, and he reveals that reciting the inscription on the Borgia ring (“In canis corpore transmuto”) will transform him into a canine. Just before going on air, Tim discovers the inscription and reads it aloud, causing Elwood to vanish only to reappear as Wilby’s physical form. Brian witnesses his father’s hair growing shaggy, and Wilby, now in dog form, frantically exits the house and TV cameras. Confused, Tim tries to communicate with “Elwood,” unaware that Wilby is trapped in a furry body. As the spell wears off, Wilby regains human form, determined to reclaim the ring and navigate his newfound vulnerability as a public figure.

As Katrinka holds aloft the ring, inscribed with a message that would shatter Wilby’s composure, the politician finds himself face-to-face with an unexpected crisis. The sudden transformation sends chaos erupting at the ladies’ garden club, where Wilby’s impassioned speech devolves into pandemonium as he struggles to escape the constraints of his canine alter ego, Elwood. Meanwhile, Tim is left bewildered by the talking dog, whose antics only serve to confound him further.

As the mystery surrounding Wilby’s transformations deepens, Agent Raymond Slade begins to suspect that there’s more to the candidate’s disappearance than mere coincidence. His inquiry leads him down a trail of clues, culminating in a discovery that sets off a chain reaction of events. Katrinka’s quest to reclaim the ring takes an unexpected turn when it goes missing in a vat of cherry pie filling intended for a Slade fundraiser. The ensuing chaos sparks a frenzy of activity as the search party frantically scours the area, ultimately escalating into a full-blown pie fight.

In the midst of the commotion, Thugs recover the ring and attempt to palm it off on an unsuspecting undercover police detective. As the ring finds its way back to the museum, the inscription is read aloud once more, serving as a poignant reminder of Wilby’s predicament. The politician’s arrival at the police station only adds to the drama, as he finds himself once again transformed into Elwood.

Raymond Slade becomes increasingly convinced that there’s truth to the curse after overhearing the museum curator’s tale about a young man who turned into a sheepdog years prior. This newfound understanding prompts him to invite Wilby to his office, where he advises the candidate to withdraw from the campaign. Wilby refuses, instead vowing to have Slade investigated for his alleged criminal connections once elected.

Slade, fueled by his own ambition, sees an opportunity and reads the inscription aloud, guaranteeing that the spell will not wear off and trapping Wilby in his canine form indefinitely. Ignoring warnings that this could have catastrophic consequences, Slade continues to recite the incantation, potentially imperiling himself with each repetition.

As Wilby navigates a desperate bid for freedom, he finds himself at odds with the district attorney, who has the entire police force and animal control at his disposal. In a last-ditch effort to evade capture, Wilby turns to the dog pound, where an unexpected alliance with his canine companions forms. United in their quest for liberation, they concoct a plan to outsmart Slade’s agents and secure Wilby’s release from his furry prison.

As Wilby (aided by his trusted allies Brian and Tim, still laboring under the misconception that Elwood could converse) delves deeper into the murky waters of corruption, he uncovers a web of deceit linking Slade to organized crime. With cunning and guile, Wilby and Tim orchestrate a clever ruse, luring Slade to Roshak’s warehouse, where the latter unwittingly becomes embroiled in a trap. Utilizing a trusty tape recorder, Wilby captures incriminating evidence, exposing Slade’s wrongdoings for all to see.

Meanwhile, a group of canine companions from the local pound, drawn into Wilby’s orbit by their shared experiences and loyalty, play a pivotal role in the unfolding drama. As Slade reads aloud the inscription on the ring, he inadvertently invites the curse to take hold, transforming him into a snarling bulldog. The once-omnipotent Slade is now reduced to a mere mortal, his powers diminished as he wallows in his newfound canine state.

As the narrative reaches its climax, Wilby’s tireless efforts are rewarded with a resounding victory: he is elected district attorney, while Slade faces the consequences of his actions, brought low by the authorities for speeding. In a heartwarming coda, Tim finds love and proposes to Katrinka, as they join forces with Wilby to adopt the canine companions from the pound, ensuring a bright future for all involved.