Teacher's Pet (2004 film)

Teacher's Pet, a 2004 American animated musical comedy from Disney, wraps up the 2000 TV series of the same name, which was dreamed up by artist Gary Baseman. Walt Disney Television Animation handled production, Buena Vista Pictures distributed it, and Timothy Björklund—who directed the series—took the helm. The script came from the show's creators, Bill and Cheri Steinkellner. Released in theaters on January 16, 2004, the film earned mostly positive reviews but flopped at the box office, taking in $6.5 million against a $10 million budget. The movie is dedicated to Baseman's dog, Hubcaps, who passed away while it was being made.

The plot follows Spot, a dog who has spent a year pretending to be a boy named Scott so he can attend school with his owner, fourth-grader Leonard Helperman. Spot longs to become a real human boy, which frustrates Leonard, who just wants an ordinary dog. When Leonard's mother, Mary Lou, gets invited to the "Teacher of the Year" finals in Southern Florida and borrows the principal's RV—with the rule that no dogs come along—Leonard sadly leaves Spot with a pet sitter. Spot then sees a TV talk show where a Florida scientist, Dr. Ivan Krank, claims he can turn animals into humans. Determined to become a boy, Spot chases the RV, disguises himself as Scott, and talks Mrs. Helperman into letting him join them. Back home, the family's bird, Pretty Boy, and cat, Mr. Jolly, learn from a follow-up show that Krank's process actually creates grotesque hybrids, not real humans. They set off to warn Spot. In Florida, Mrs. Helperman goes to the finals, and Spot convinces Leonard to visit Krank's lab. Despite Leonard's doubts, Krank transforms Spot into a human—but because dogs age faster, Spot becomes a grown man, not a boy. Krank then tries to capture the "dog-man" for exhibition, but they escape. Using his dog senses, "Scott" finds a lost dog for a reward, and he and Leonard enjoy a day out. They return to the RV, concoct a story to explain the switch from boy-Scott to man-Scott, and Mrs. Helperman starts falling for him. Scott wants to marry her so they can stay together, but Leonard refuses. Angry, Scott says he's no longer Leonard's dog and leaves, taking his collar. The other pets arrive and help Leonard realize he should support Scott's dream. Leonard decides the only way to stay together is to become Scott's dog and heads to Krank's lab.