Wiener Dog

If you haven't seen anything by Todd Solondz, you have been missing out. Seriously, you have not lived until you have seen the absolutely pitch black comedies that he has directed. Classics such as "Happiness" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse" have been among my favorites for years, and no these are not films concerning happy people, or the fantasies invoked by the image of a child's toy. Todd Solondz captures a spark of the American consciousness that is both upsetting and completely ridiculous. You hope that these people are not real, that these situations do not impact the daily lives of anyone you truly love and cherish, but they absolutely do.

Solondz has been making movies for twenty years but none of them have been as immensely loved as the two I just mentioned. This particular film premiered at Sundance in January and was bought up by IFC and Amazon Studios for VOD release in April. This low key release hasn't lent to great word of mouth, but then again what are you going to say about this film that would make someone willingly watch it? Do you talk about the section where Danny DeVito plays a defeated and morose screen writing professor? The first section that shows the acquisition of the wiener dog and its subsequent sickness via the ingestion of chocolate? (And all the mess that entails) What you should tell people is that it's atmospheric, moody, and self- assured in its stark representations of down and out losers.

Solondz films don't show winners. They show people who deserve far worse than they're getting, or people who are so devastatingly wrong in every aspect of their lives that it's embarrassing to watch them just live them. The characters he chose for this film are each unique in a very different way. Julie Delpy's soft spoken mother consistency tries to break bad news to her child about the facts of life by overtly lying to his face. Terrible, inscrutable words form on her lips and flow out of her in a delivery style that is so blunt that it physically hurts.

Honestly, if you like weird, this is going to be your favorite film of the year. While it doesn't exaggerate its mood with grand effects or strange settings, it's a film that tells the little person's tale. Grandmothers sometimes don't connect with their offspring. Parents sometimes can't trust their children. Making a spontaneous decision can change big aspects of your life. These are the themes that Solondz focuses on to great effect, and though these are small spaces, they produce a grand film.

There is a scene in (Danny DeVito) Dave Schmerz's office which shows a movie poster for Dave Schmerz's "Apricots". The poster is clearly based on Woody Allen's "Bananas".

There were lots of little things like this in this movie, just thrown in there but not brought explicitly to your attention.

One of the reasons I appreciate Solondz.

I found this movie very enjoyable and satisfying. It is, though rather subtle about it, a comedy... though many plainly fail to see that. Frankly, I expected something more dry and dark. I ended up feeling really glad I had gone.

Many small things to notice and appreciate, and some very good acting all around. Some genuinely poignant moments sprinkled throughout. There were also a few little digs at recent films... twice a shot of the boy reclining which recalled "Boyhood", and the 'Intermission' plainly mocks "The Hateful Eight"

You probably have to 'get' Solondz, and know what to expect. DO NOT go in expecting a wacky pic about a kooky pup. But if you do get his stuff, I say this is his best since "Happiness"

This film tells four stories that involve Wiener Dogs, their owners and the people around them.

The film has nice bright sets, and the people look seemingly bubbly enough most of the time. If you look at the screenshots, you'll be forgiven for thinking it's a comedy. However, the stories are actually rather dark and disturbing. There is a child with cancer, a drug addict whose father just died, a depressed professor and a grumpy old woman. The four stores are equally good, they are touching and convey much emotions but still manage to be individually unique. The clash of the bubbly tone and dark subject matter is very interesting. Acting is great as well, especially Danny DeVito and Ellen Burstyn.

Amusing in bits n pieces but sterile for the most part, Wiener-Dog is an uninvolving, uninteresting & unappealing indie that attempts to find humour in the mundane lives of the dull characters that inhabit this feature with little success and stays on the base level throughout its runtime.

The story of Wiener-Dog follows the journey of its titular character, a dachshund that passes from one eccentric owner to another and leaves its imprints in their dysfunctional lives. The plot covers four story lines, in addition to an unexpected intermission in this 88 minutes narrative.

Written & directed by Todd Solondz, there is a quirky element present in the picture from the start and even though the movie is richly photographed & makes extensive use of bright colour palette, the content is just as empty from within as the lives of its broken characters. In short, the laughs are few & far in between.

The cast comprises of Julie Delpy, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Burstyn, Danny DeVito & others, and most of them do have their individual moments to shine. Delpy has one hell of a story to tell, Gerwig is delightful as always, DeVito's segment is the most interesting, while Burstyn outacts others in her part by simply sitting around.

On an overall scale, Wiener-Dog may work best for those who are familiar with the director's earlier works but for newcomers, there isn't really much that's stimulating enough on an emotional level. It does address its themes of mortality & existence with flair and wraps itself up with an ending that no one saw coming but as a comedy, this indie is one bland example with not much to offer.

what a shocker - wiener dog you would think of as an affectionate term for a dachshund, no this dog is portrayed as a novelty disposable item - used by a series of horrible people who display a total lack of empathy for the dog - and a complete lack of respect. I am so disappointed that a mainstream film with famous actors in would not help put forward the message that people and children need to hear - RESPECT DOGS. Someone else said- dogs get enough of a raw deal in life we don't want to see it on screen. i totally agree and am disgusted with the cold hearted director who didn't display a shred of empathy for the dog. A terrible terrible film.