Dog

Co-director and star Channing Tatum does a nice job with "Dog". It is a great looking movie filled with nice performances. The story does take a few unexpected turns but it never loses focus. The movie has a nice pace and packs more emotion than one might expect. Also, the dog is great. "Dog" is a well done, emotional movie. Honorable mention: the soundtrack. (I saw "Dog" at Regal, Westbury, NY.)

Dog is a fun movie that knows what it is: a cute dog and a charming lead going on a road trip together while having some misadventures.

I still don't why some movies decide to put CGI dogs in a movie like The Call of The Wild remake. People go see dog movies to see dogs.

Okay. So, I am not really a Tatum Channing (Who? Stockard Channing? Carol Channing?) err, Channing Tatum aficionado. Kind of thought he was the beefy guy of the moment--yet here he still is. But, wow, he did a fabulous job in this flick. Absolutely a wonderful story and for sure this movie is an unexpected DRAMA. Channing's range has expanded. I mean, this is not an academy award movie, don't get me wrong, but it it is well done, emotive, tear jerker at times...totally impressed. Great scenery. Great lighting ---the production team did a good job. And the reality beneath this story, most of us don't have a clue. Well done across the board.

This film's trailer and classification might lead you to believe it's a comedy and although it has some humor in it, it is primary a drama. I was expecting lots of laughs based on the trailer, but I realized the editing on the trailer doesn't match the type of editing style of the actual film.

The film is about two post-war veteran army rangers. Both have unresolved issues. One of the veterans is Army Ranger, Jackson Briggs (Channing Tatum). The second is a K-9 Army Ranger by the name of Lulu.

After Lulu's master death, Briggs is charged with the task of delivering the K-9 to its former master's funeral for a last goodbye. The two rangers are reluctantly paired together on a long road trip to the funeral. While on their journey there, the two eventually find comfort and solace in each other. But there are plenty of hiccups along the way.

The film doesn't spell out what Briggs and Lulu are going through. The story is carefully explained through the nuances in their acting and body language. So, this is a read between the lines type of movie. The film is a bit slow but that's probably a good thing considering what the intent of the film is meant to be. Briggs also has domestic issues, but the true nature of the issues aren't disclosed. But based on the fact he wants to leave on another rotation to active duty, it seems he is trying to escape problems with his daughter's mother. Can't tell if he is married to her or just a girlfriend.

It's a good film but probably not a film children will enjoy but empathic adults will understand. Particularly military families.

Positives:

• As a 'road movie' featuring a man and a dog, this one has genuine heart. It's not gooey and gelatinous like a "Marley and Me" dog story: it actually has a moderately hard edge to it. This is helped along by Channing Tatum who delivers a really nice and believable performance as the injured vet.

• Given this is the directorial debut of writer Reid Carolin and Channing Tatum (sharing the seat), it has a really nice pace to it. At 100 minutes long it doesn't outstay its welcome. And any time that the pace does slacken off, it's for meaningful relationship-building between Briggs and Lulu. (A stormy interlude in a barn is particularly engaging).

• The cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel is gorgeous, making full use of California's wonderful golden light and with some impressive drone footage along Highway 1.

• Given the low-budget cast (Tatum is the only big name), they've wisely invested in a scoring master (Thomas Newman) to write the music. And its lovely: understated, but when it does come through it adds considerably to the pictures.

Negatives:

• There's a lot of "thank you for your service" type messaging in here, which might cloy a bit with non-American audiences.

• It's also worth saying that this is a 12A for a reason, and parents thinking to take little ones along to see this in half term as a 'happy clappy dog movie' might want to check the BBFC comments on their web site. I attended an afternoon showing, with a number of parents and kids in the 8 to 10 sort of age-range. The parental squirming evident during the "threesome scene" (nothing actually proceeds) was self-evident, as a portent for those questions in the car home!

Summary Thoughts on "Dog": A solid and enjoyable tale that - and there is no one more surprised at this than me - I would recommend.

(For the full graphical review, please check out One Mann's Movies on the web or Facebook. Thanks.)