For all the things the film ‘Dog’ does right – and make no mistake, this movie does a LOT of things right – someone should really talk to the marketing department; did that crew even SEE this movie?
Here’s the deal, and the above trailer can back up my thought process….’Dog’ is presented as a frisky, feel-good, almost goofy road flick about Channing Tatum and a cranky canine, and how they’re forced to come together on a trip full of wacky hijinks.
Well – the pitch is off. Way off.
‘Dog’ is a surprisingly heavy hitter of a drama (yeah, ok…there a few laughs, but this ain’t no comedy) about the heartbreak of loss and the healing power of loyalty. It pushes familiar buttons to get there, but not the ones you’d expect – at least, not from how this film has been advertised. And that’s not only unfortunate as the wrong audience has been ultimately targeted….but because the finished product is a much, much better…and more IMPORTANT motion picture…than hinted at.
Co-directed by Tatum, the human star of the show, the story’s writer Red Carolin, the movie focuses on Tatum’s character, Jackson Briggs, a former Army Ranger, though not officially retired, as he’s itching to get back in the field. Unfortunately, he’s unable to receive health clearance due to a traumatic brain injury. And then, opportunity comes-a-barkin’.
Briggs is offered a chance to return to service if he’ll transport a Belgian Malinois named Lulu 1,500 miles from the local base to the funeral of a former military handler who Jackson fought alongside with, but crashed his vehicle in an apparent suicide. Despite the dog’s reputation of being difficult….see, Lulu is emotionally scarred from the terrors of war as well…Jackson assumes all will be well. And we, as an audience, know better.
‘Dog’ makes some unusual choices as far as the storyline thread goes – Tatum, anxious for some companionship along the way, meets up with a few eclectic ladies in a bar which initially feels like something lifted out of an 80’s sex farce, while another scene appears to be veering into bizarre Tarantino territory before it takes a gentle swerve. But….hey, whatever. Bottom line, Tatum has rarely been better than he is here, the dog is tough to resist (of course), and by the end, we empathize enough with these two that we fall in love pretty darn hard. ‘Dog’ ain’t no dog….it’s a great film.
