---
title: "Beethoven's 2nd: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/beethovens-2nd/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/beethovens-2nd"
critics_score: 62
critics_reviews: 7
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Beethoven's 2nd (1993): what the critics said

Critics' score 62 from 7 reviews: 2 positive, 5 mixed, 0 negative.

Most critics take Beethoven’s 2nd for what it is: a cosy family sequel that does roughly what the first film did, with four puppies added. Nobody dislikes it and nobody is excited by it. The praise clusters on the cast rather than the dog: Charles Grodin is singled out repeatedly, Bonnie Hunt is mentioned warmly, and Debi Mazar’s dog-hating villain is the performance several reviews remember. The puppies themselves are credited with much of the sequel’s appeal.

The reservations are the expected ones. The puppy bodily-function jokes are called tiresome, the sentiment is thought heavy, and the holiday finale strikes one critic as contrived. The spread is narrow. The Los Angeles Times is the warmest, finding the sequel as funny and appealing as the original; Empire is the coolest, rating it passable entertainment mainly for very young children. Two of the seven reviews are too partial to yield a clear verdict either way.

## Los Angeles Times — Kevin Thomas

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 1993. 

Thomas finds the sequel just as funny and appealing as the original, and welcomes it as family entertainment. He especially praises Charles Grodin’s performance and the believable, if idealized, Newton family.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-17-ca-2777-story.html)

## Variety — Brian Lowry

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 December 1993. 

Lowry finds the sequel reasonably entertaining and more pleasing than its predecessor. He praises its lively 101 Dalmatians-inspired children’s-film feel and Debi Mazar’s memorable villain, while noting that puppy bodily-function jokes remain tiresome.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/beethoven-s-2nd-1200434661/)

## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 17 December 1993. 

The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. No review text or rating was visible.

[Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/beethovens-2nd-1993)

## Time Out — WH

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 

The available text does not reveal the critic’s overall verdict. It singles out the four puppies as adding appeal to the sequel.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/beethovens-2nd)

## Radio Times — David Parkinson

Rating 3/5. 

Parkinson finds this cosy sequel entertaining despite its contrived holiday finale. He singles out the amiable performances of Charles Grodin and Bonnie Hunt, along with Debi Mazar’s villainy.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-iatz09/beethovens-2nd/)

## The Guardian — Charlie Lyne

Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 21 February 2015. 

The piece offers a playful, mostly plot-focused account rather than a clear verdict on the film. It singles out Beethoven and Missy’s romance and their antics foiling a dog-hating businesswoman.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/feb/21/beethovens-2nd-netflix-charlie-lyne)

## Empire — Robin Brooks

Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. 

Brooks finds the film passable entertainment mainly for very young children. He praises a few clever touches and amusing puppy gags, while noting the heavy sentiment.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/beethoven-second-review/)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/beethovens-2nd.md