Hangdog

What a great movie - such excellent casting, acting, writing, directing, cinematography - all of it. Heart-felt, funny and a great dog, to boot. I immediately recognized Desmon Borges - he is always great, as is Catherine Curtin. All in all, a total pleasure. And more movies need to be made in Maine, Portland especially - it is such an idyllic setting. I streamed it on Prime and it's available on Apple, too.

Independent movies are always worth a try, in my opinion, and I'm always willing to give one a try. I think I've always heard that actors try to avoid working with children and animals as they steal the show. The little pooch in this one, Tony, did a good job.

I could watch this film over and over again. I had the pleasure of seeing a screening of it in the city it was filmed in: Portland, Maine... The writing is incredibly clever and tells a story you're immediately invested in. I cried, felt joy, and laughed like I haven't laughed in a long time. The direction is beautiful and honest, making it easy to feel a part of the story. And the acting! Pure and authentic. The characters' realness grabs you and tugs at your guts (in the best way). Do yourself a solid and find a way to see this film. You'll relate, connect to yourself, and feel seen when it's over.

There's one sequence in particular where I couldn't stop laughing for over a minute straight. The story is wildly original. It keeps you guessing, with endearing characters and beautiful filming locations in Portland, Maine. Each of the actors make a strong impression. Desmin Borges carries the movie, in what feels like a very natural, effortless performance. The soundtrack is memorable, with a very funny (and tragic?) backstory for one of the songs. It was a great experience to watch Hangdog at the theater, with an in depth Q&A afterwards. I highly recommend Hangdog to pet owners and non-pet owners alike.

This film does a great job of meshing comedy with drama, anxiety with relief. Even when you think everything's going to be okay, it isn't. It's a film that isn't afraid to live in the nebulous gray areas of life, while reminding us that we can and should laugh when things are looking bleak. The highlights for me were each of the exciting characters that Walt meets along the way as he unravels a mystery that could destroy his relationship. Desmin Borges is spot on as the anxiety-ridden lead who's struggling as a Portland, Maine fish-out-of-water New Yorker. Special shout-outs to Barbara Rosenblat's laugh-out-loud one liners and Steve Coulter's rambunctious and emotionally moving performance. It's an equally touching and hilarious small-scale odyssey that we just don't see enough of these days. Really excited to see what husband/wife team Matt Cascella and Jen Cordery cook up for us next.

What a terrific film! The characters are wonderful; the soundtrack and cinematography are both terrific; and, the story is touching...at times serious, at time hilarious.

Having visited Portland, I especially liked the locations.

Director Matt Cascella does a great job of using the natural beauty of the City and Casco Bay to enhance the storyline.

Desmin Borges's performance is spot-on. So natural, and so nuanced.

Watching "Hangdog" made me feel good. It captures something so personal and human. After a hard week's work, I suggest you go for "Hangdog." A great way to spend a weekend evening!