Although it's a pleasant surprise, shrewd viewers can't help but raise their eyebrows when Beethoven and Sparky, a stray Jack Russel Terrier, jump out of a moving vehicle unharmed. We're not trying to pick any nits here, but the fleeing scene at the beginning of the movie is a little far-fetched, clearly sprinkled with some movie magic.
After Sparky and Beethoven are stolen by Vernon and Harvey (Oliver Platt) and put into a van with other dogs, the van flees the scene and outruns the cops with ease, so it must be moving pretty fast. Sparky, a tiny dog with little leverage and, like all canines, no opposable thumbs, somehow manages to open the van door. Then, just as implausibly, the terrier and Beethoven jump out of a vehicle that's apparently moving faster than a police cruiser.
We're just as happy as anyone that they weren't harmed and escaped the dog-nappers, but this event is simply hard not to question as an adult. Ironically, despite their superhuman (or super-canine) evasive feat, both dogs are captured by the same criminals in the future. Luckily, Sparky and Beethoven get their revenge, and the dog pals escape Vernon and Harvey once more — only this time, the humans are rightfully arrested.
