Dog (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review
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© 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Directed by: Reid Carolin, Channing Tatum
Written by: Reid Carolin
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jane Adams, Kevin Nash, Q'orianka Kilcher, Ethan Suplee, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Nicole LaLiberté, Luke Forbes, Ronnie Gene Blevins
Runtime: 101 min
Synopsis: Army Ranger Briggs (Channing Tatum) and Lulu (a Belgian Malinois dog) buckle into a 1984 Ford Bronco and race down the Pacific Coast in hopes of making it to a fellow soldier's funeral on time. Along the way, they'll drive each other completely crazy, break a small handful of laws, narrowly evade death, and learn to let down their guards in order to have a fighting chance of finding happiness.
© 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Often, both the general public and members of the press place high expectations on a film that doesn't pretend to be more than what it really is. Sometimes, it feels that a screenplay with a beautiful message, a simple story, and relatable characters isn't enough to entertain an audience constantly on the lookout for the next masterpiece. Well, Dog is far from being an inventive or even unique cinematographic piece, but it would be a blatant lie to claim that it doesn't have countless reasons to be appreciated or that its story is insufficient to captivate viewers.
As one would expect, people who share a strong emotional connection with their pets, namely dogs, will find plenty of moments where they'll be able to recognize themselves. Personally, I lost count of the valuable minutes in which the company and affection I received from all my dogs helped me in those more difficult times of life. From small day-to-day delights to essential phases that shaped my personality, a pet becomes much more important than many "friends" that come in and out of our lives. Therefore, it's no surprise that the arc shared by Briggs and Lulu is the soul of Dog.
© 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The main character - brilliantly portrayed by Channing Tatum, a highly underrated actor - is introduced as an ex-military man with too many health, family, and financial problems, an archetype quite common in Hollywood, but one that depicts the reality of its respective country. Apart from some overly childish plot points that fail to further develop the goal of the movie, the viewers' connection to the (human) protagonist becomes simple and emotionally efficient. The resemblances between Lulu and Briggs' past traumas and current issues are perfectly illustrated, proving that asking and letting someone help us is always a good option.
The phenomenal chemistry between Tatum (Free Guy) and the dog cannot be faked, making it clear that both "actors" created a genuine bond. When it comes to the direction and screenplay, there's room for improvement, without a doubt. Tatum and Reid Carolin don't try to over-dramatize a formulaic yet functional narrative, positioning the audience as mere companions to the journey the main characters must travel, literally and figuratively. Several moments warrant a nice smile and even some good laughs, in addition to the tear-inducing ending. It's also impossible to forget the perfect score by Thomas Newman (1917), which generates a serene and immersive atmosphere - a remarkable composer who shockingly still hasn't received an Oscar.
© 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Final Thoughts
Dog may be unimaginative and unsurprising, but it still offers a simple, lovely story, boasting enough authenticity and genuine emotion to captivate any viewer. Bearing in mind the directorial debuts of Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin, it's worth highlighting the lack of extreme dramatizations or overly sophisticated shots, which helped keep the narrative quite natural. Despite an odd plot point or two, Briggs and Lulu share emotionally impactful interactions that will generate a lot of smiles, a few laughs, and, who knows, a tear or two - Thomas Newman's fantastic score will surely cause that. I couldn't recommend this film more for anyone who considers their pet as their best friend.
