Family comedy directed by Brian Levant and starring Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt and Dean Jones. The Newton family feel somewhat incomplete until they add a St. Bernard puppy to their group. Loved by all the members of the family, except for uptight father George (Grodin), Beethoven grows up to be an incredibly large dog. When a twisted veterinarian decides that he needs Beethoven for his vile experiments however, George becomes Beethoven's best hope for escape.