Therapy Dogs

As someone who has witnessed countless coming-of-age films, I must say that Ethan Eng's directorial debut is both refreshing and relatable. The film follows the last year of high school for our protagonist and his friend as they embark on creating the ultimate senior video. It's not groundbreaking territory, but Eng manages to breathe new life into familiar themes. His characters are reckless, bored, awkward, and full of boundless energy, reminding us of our own teenage years. They spend their days attacking lockers, hanging off car roofs while drifting through parking lots, and scaling tall water towers. While these moments are exciting to watch, what truly sets "Therapy Dogs" apart is its exploration of adolescent masculinity. Eng masterfully interweaves subtle commentary throughout the film, making us question the traditional ideals of masculinity that many of us grew up with. Through his lens, we see a vivid and often exhilarating portrayal of what it means to be young today, highlighting both the uniqueness of this era and its similarities to previous generations. Overall, "Therapy Dogs" receives a solid 7/10 rating from me. While there were moments where the pace felt slow and certain plot points could have been fleshed out more, these minor criticisms cannot overshadow the film's strengths. Eng's direction, coupled with strong performances from his cast, makes "Therapy Dogs" a captivating and thoughtful addition to the genre."

I cannot recommend this film enough. As one of the educators from the very school this movie was filmed within (without permission mind you), it has my entire support behind it.

Director Ethan Eng spent the better part of his senior year secretively creating this film, telling staff it was for the "yearbook video". Eng blends real happenings of teenage life with scripted content, which forces the audience to constantly question what is real and what is fantasy.

The undeniable achievement of Therapy Dogs garnered the attention of Hollywood power-houses Joe and Anthony Russo (of Arrested Development and Avengers fame), who awarded Eng with the. AGBO Fellowship Award after the film's run within the 2022 Slamdance Film Festival.

As of writing this review, the film has not yet been released. But once it is, it will absolutely be worth your attention.

As far as zero-budget, zero-permission, grade 12 films go: 11 out of 10.