Producer Bob Simonds, who developed "See Spot Run," had been looking for a project that might suit David Arquette. "I've wanted to work with David for quite some time," says Simonds. "I thought he was phenomenal in 'Never Been Kissed.' He stole the show."
"David is somebody who could essentially be the Buster Keaton of our generation, given the right movie," Simonds continues, "and I believe this is the movie. It's much more of a physical comedy than anything else that's in the marketplace."
"David has a great sense of physical adventure" agrees director John Whitesell. He is a truly gifted physical comedian: he'll throw himself at anything bodily one hundred percent."
For Simonds, Whitesell was as obvious a choice to direct the film as Arquette was to star. "He is one of the top comedy people in the business," says Simonds. "He's the guy you go after if you want to get your pilot on the air. I was really impressed with his take on comedy and also the way he talked about the script."
It was the script that first attracted Whitesell to the project. After the FBI repeatedly thwarts the plans of mob boss Sonny Talia, thanks largely to the efforts of hot shot canine Agent Eleven. Talia is determined to have his revenge and puts out a contract the dog, that is subsequently placed into a witness-protection program for his own safety. When Talia's hit men try to kidnap the dog en route to its safe house, Agent Eleven is forced to take matters into his own paws and he ends up ducking for cover in the nearest available refuge — Gordon's truck.
"I thought it was a fantastic concept to have a dog going into witness protection,'" says Whitesell. "A mailman inadvertently adopts an FBI superdog in suburbia — what a great idea!
"I also jumped at the chance to do a big physical comedy that involved dogs and kids and a funny plot," Whitesell continues. "So many films are either just for teenagers or just for kids and their parents. We wanted to bridge that gap and make a film for all moviegoers."
As to Arquette's casting in the role of the exuberant and somewhat childlike Gordon, Whitesell fully supported Simonds' instinct. "David's got this sense that he's still a kid growing up, and I think that's why he's right for Gordon because that's who Gordon is -- a guy who hasn't really grown up yet and has this whole bravado about life."
Producer Tracey Trench, who is also a principal in Bob Simonds' production company, says. "Our company looks for great comedic actors to build a concept around. as Bob has done with the Adam SandIer films. This comedy already existed in the form of a script and we developed it to what it is now, with David Arquette in mind.
"But it's also a new kind of character for him," Trench continues, "because, although it's funny, he's playing a real guy and the movie has a lot of heart. He has an opportunity to show honest emotion. We think he's a huge star and that this movie will prove that."
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