Life Is Ruff

About Life Is Ruff

"Life Is Ruff" is a 2005 Disney Channel Original Movie directed by Charles Haid. The movie tells the feel-good story of a 13-year-old boy named Calvin Wheeler (played by Kyle Massey) who's fond of comic books and loves to make money. The plot takes a twist when Calvin adopts a dog named Tyco who leads him to an exciting dog show competition, teaching him key life principles along the way.

Making / Production

"Life Is Ruff" was primarily shot in Salt Lake City, Utah. The movie was produced by Disney Channel, with the original story written by Eddie Guzelian. Known for including animals in their shows and movies, Disney treaded a similar path with "Life Is Ruff," showcasing the bond between humans and animals.

Actors

• Kyle Massey, portraying the lead character Calvin Wheeler, brings to life his character's entrepreneurial mindset, along with his evolving relationship with his newfound pet, Tyco. Kyle was previously known for his work on Disney’s "That’s So Raven".
• Kay Panabaker played Emily Watson, a fellow student and dog-lover who assists Calvin during the dog show. Kay skillfully portrays Emily's empathy for dogs and budding friendship with Calvin.
• Mitchel Musso acted as Raymond Figg, Calvin's nerdy best friend who carries around a lunchbox for good luck.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The movie was a part of Disney's trend of bringing animals into their programs, highlighting their friendly behavior and intelligence.
• This was one of the early cinematographic appearances for both Kyle Massey and Kay Panabaker.

Awards

No notable awards were received for this movie.

Quotes

• "Money is such a beautiful word" - Calvin Wheeler
• "Some people say life is ruff, some people say life is sweet" - Lyrics from the soundtrack "Life is Ruff"

Music, Soundtrack

• "New Shoes" by Paolo Nutini
• "Life is Ruff" by Kyle Massey