Air Bud: Spikes Back

Air Bud: Spikes Back

Air Bud: Spikes Back, also known as Air Bud 5, is a 2003 sports comedy film directed by Mike Southon. It is the fifth and final film in the original Air Bud series. This movie continues the adventures of Buddy, the heroic dog who loves playing basketball.

The film was special because it did not feature Kevin Zegers as Josh Framm, the young boy who originally found Buddy.

The movie was released on June 24, 2003 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment. After this film, the story of Buddy continued in a new spin-off series called the Air Buddies.

Plot

Buddy finds out that he is really good at playing volleyball. During this time, he and a talking parrot help stop some bad guys named Doug and Gordon. Meanwhile, a girl named Andrea Framm is saving money to travel to California to visit her friend Tammy. Tammy’s family has to move there. Andrea also tells us that her brother, Josh Framm, has decided to play football at college for the summer instead of coming back home to Fernfield for vacation.

Cast

This movie has many talented actors. Katija Pevec plays Andrea Framm, who is Buddy’s owner. Tyler Boissonnault plays Connor, Andrea’s love interest. Edie McClurg acts as Gram Gram, Andrea’s grandmother. Patrick Cranshaw plays Sheriff Bob. Other actors include Cynthia Stevenson as Andrea’s mother, Jake D. Smith as her younger half-brother Noah, and Gabrielle Reece appearing as herself. The cast also features Robert Tinkler as Doug, Malcolm Scott as Gordon, Alf Humphreys as Andrea’s stepfather, Chantal Strand as Andrea’s best friend Tammy, C. Ernst Harth as Phil, Ellen Kennedy as Wilma, Nancy Robertson as Principal Pickle, Doug Funk as Mailman Phil, and Brian Dobson providing the voice of Polly the Parrot.

Release

Air Bud: Spikes Back came out on DVD on June 24, 2003, by Buena Vista Home Entertainment. It was released again by Disney on June 16, 2008, together with Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch.

The movie was released once more on January 14, 2020, by Mill Creek Entertainment in a box set with other Air Bud movies. All five Air Bud films, including Spikes Back, could be watched on Disney+ starting October 1, 2023.