Mi amigo Enzo

I just got out of watching The Art Of Racing In The Rain

A seriously emotional movie for me, as I had to have my beloved family dog Rocky, put down on Monday, I knew I would cry watching this, and I did.

It is not what you think it is. It is not a racing movie, nor is it a children movie about a mischievous dog, its about the people and their relationships told through the eyes of the dog, voiced beautifully by Kevin Costner.

It has been 13 years since Milo Ventimiglia starred in Rocky Balbo, yet every time he smiles that crooked smile, I'm reminded of Sly. Amanda Seyfried puts in a touching performance whilst Martin Donovan is simply a guy you will hate.

This is a movie that is all heart, I laughed and cried watching it.

I hadn't read the book that it is based on, so only armed with the knowledge of a short synopsis, I really didn't know what to expect. It was actually quite good.

I thought listening to Kevin Costner drone on for a couple hours as a dog's inner monologue would be tedious, but the nuggets of wisdom peppered with the occasional witticism provided ample entertainment. I often felt like I was watching the "Thoughts of Dog" Twitter account played out in cinematic form. I absolutely loved both Milo Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried in this. The daughter was also played especially well by Ryan Kiera Armstrong. The relationships between themselves and also with Eve's (Seyfried) parents was perhaps a bit banal at times, but overall was still believable and endearing - although I felt like hitting the dad with my car at several points.

Afterwards, I overheard several people tell the studio rep that they hadn't expected the movie to be a "tear-jerker", and the sobs coming from the gentleman seated next to me seemed to confirm that. However, I found the story to not be overly sorrowful or sad, but inspirational. A guide, if you will, for how to become an exemplary person shown through the filter of a dog's belief that by gaining this knowledge he'll be reincarnated as a human in his next life. (I know it sounds silly, but it was actually quite poignant.)

I didn't know anything about the movie before watching it. As soon as I saw it was about the life of a dog 'Enzo', beautifully narrated by Kevin Costner by the way, I looked at my wife and told her I will probably cry with this movie. When it's about animals I have difficulties not to cry when something 'happens' to the animal, and that even though I know it's just a movie. And oh boy did I cry with this movie, and so did my wife. At one point we were both balling without ending. Just thinking about it makes me want to cry again, and that's a day later. It's the kind of movie that reminds you previous dogs you owned, or the dogs you have at this moment. I watched it with Lou, my lovely poodle that I rescued, sitting in my lap, and Jef, my Andalucian waterdog, cuddling next to me. You can't help it to compare things from the movie with your actual life and pets. The story itself is not flawless, but it doesn't matter as it is too beautiful to stand still at those little imperfections. The relationship and endless love between Milo Ventimiglia and his dog Enzo is something a lot of dog owners will recognize. I love my dogs so much it hurts just thinking one day I will have to let them go, but knowing they had a good life eases the pain. The Art Of Racing In The Rain is a movie for animal lovers, a movie where you will need a box of tissues. I loved it, but I wonder if I could watch it again.

Tears. This is personal. I have a 2 year old naughty, loving, beautiful and mischievous golden retriever boy. A stranger at a local dog park struck up a conversation and asked me where I got my golden. Then proceeded to tell me that I've got to go watch The Art of Racing In the Rain. So I kept the idea tucked away in my to do list. Finally cpl weeks later I purchased it on my Prime account. Movie is very heartwarming. A little sad. Unfair. Hopeful. Profound. Thoughtful. Touches on life's moments that seem to grab us. Moving along life's gifts come and go stealing our hearts. Dogs are God's gifts to us, especially those of us who are alone in age, loss of our human best-friend, single, looking to complete a family, widowed or need love to give and receive. Watch it and relax. It brought tears to my eyes knowing one day my 2 year old golden will be gone. So I embrace all of his naughtiness and love him for his big sweet heart of gold.

The Art of Racing in the Rain is one of those films that rips your heart out of your chest, dangles it in front of your face, and ultimately gives it back to you. It is a very faithful adaptation of the original novel, with some changes that I personally thought were for the better. Milo Ventimiglia and Kevin Costner bring their A games to this film. You can feel a very strong connection between their characters Denny and Enzo the dog respectively. Though this film isn't the most groundbreaking out there, it is a very well-made, heartfelt retelling of an incredibly heartwarming story.