Amy Adler Jack, a chimp, has been trained by a college professor, Dr. Kendall (Lomax Study) to do various human tasks. Each week, a small gathering of adults and children come to a seminar to see his progress. But, alas, one night, the prof has a heart attack and passes away. The head of the department wants to sell him to the highest bidder, even if it means Jack will be subjected to experimentation. That cannot happen, so a janitor, Larry, smuggles Jack out of the lab and puts him on a train to California. That's where Jack's family resides. However, Jack oversleeps and ends up in British Columbia! There, a California family has just transplanted themselves as residents. The son, Steven (Kevin Zegers) is a hockey player who joins a young adult team. Of course, they give him grief for thinking a So-Cal guy can compete with Canadian players. Even in a worse situation is Steve's sister Tara (Jamie Renee Smith) who is deaf and has no luck making friends at her new school. It is Tara who finds Jack and takes him to her room. Before long, Jack is skating alongside Steven and gets himself "placed" on the team. Since the chimp can go through other skaters legs and perform other unusual feats, Steven's team starts winning big. But, with the college looking for their once valuable primate, will everyone's dreams be spoiled? This is a cute film with a funny script and a nice cast. It has a bevy of clichés, as to its story, but each one works enjoyably. No, a chimp would never be allowed on a team, but it doesn't matter. Only animal activists will frown at the flick so, unless you are one of those, get this MVP for your own Most Valuable Family.

codzilla My wife made me buy this from the bargain bin at w-mart. She loves monkey movies (I don't, as a rule).Not really a spoiler, but I figured I'd check the box just in case, before writing the next bit....What makes this film actually a bit funny, albeit probably unintentional, is the fact that the (obviously) American writers figure it takes a chimp and a red-blooded American boy to make a Canadian hockey team take itself seriously. The Canadians on the team are portrayed as lunkheads who really don't care about winning or losing and can't play hockey.....until, of course, the pretty boy and the chimp from South of the border come up and teach them a lesson in winning and team pride.Seriously folks, since when have the Americans taught Canadians ANYTHING about hockey??? The Miracle on Ice that occurred 30 years ago was called a "miracle" for a reason.To put this in perspective from a cultural-pride point of view, think of how a movie with a Canadian kid who plays baseball and a bear cub from Canada somehow made it onto a AAA baseball team. The team really sucks and all the pre-existing American guys were fat and stupid, and the Canadian duo led them to the championship. If that sounds appealing to you, then by all means, watch this movie.

moviefreeek882003 I would just like to say, the people who gave this movie poor ratings, must have something wrong with them. They are entitled to their own opinion, but I still think they are wrong. MVP and all the Air Bud films are excellent. I may not be a big sports fan, but I am a big movie fan and I know good movies when I see them.

dbragiel I just came back from seeing MVP and was amazed. I was surprised because I'm 20 so this is more for a kids movie. I've seen Dunston checks In, Air Bud I II, Ed, and That Darn Cat and I just love pet movies. You can't go wrong. First of all Jack the monkey is brilliant. I have never seen a monkey play hockey so well. I don't want to spoil anything but the ending is very good. If you are 20 above and like pet movies this is movie for you.As far acting goes once again you can't go wrong. Like I said before Jack is one good monkey at skating. His puck handling and skating are convincing and are the best monkey skating I've seen in a movie. Shane Vajda as Moose gave a surprising performance. So for those who haven't seen it skate don't run to your local theatre.Two primate thumbs up :)