Gone Doggy Gone

I had the pleasure of catching Gone Doggy Gone at the Dances With Films Festival in Los Angeles. This is a 'feel good' comedy that really delivers some good punchlines and a few belly- laughs along the way. Unlike a lot of modern American comedy the film never stoops to gross out or toilet humor but rather relies on a really solid premise, daftly delivered. A couple treats their pooch like a baby, with ensuing hilarity, certainly not just an LA phenomena, but one that a lot of other pet lovers will relate to. The one man one woman team of Kasi Brown and Brandon Walter not only took writing and directing duties but are excellent as the molly cuddling couple. There is also an excellent cameo from character actor Richard Riehle as a P.I. Parts of the plot may feel a little bit like it depends too much on improv, but the film makes up for it in sheer likability and there is also a wonderful nod or two to some film classics that are pastiched with brilliant wit. This is definitely one for the instant watch queue.

Gone Doggy Gone is an ambitious, low-budget comedy with something for everyone. In spite of its juvenile-sounding name, however, it's not a family film. The dog-napped canine star of the film is adorable, and each of the main characters are distinctly engaging, especially Shaina Vorspan as a troubled dog sitter, Kasi Brown (who is also the film's co-director) as a doting pet owner and Kate Connor as Brown's wacky, pot-smoking best friend. Jeff Sloniker as a bumbling, slovenly private investigator hired to find the missing dog is also a standout. The film is actually like a zany road picture with everyone in hot pursuit getting nowhere fast. Though the film lags a bit in the middle, there's a freshness to it and enough laughs to make it worthwhile. For its budget, production values are also quite good.

I was thoroughly entertained. It is just plain good comedy, and highly enjoyable. I laughed a lot, and found the characters endearing. Some events were predictable, but most were delightfully creative. I thought the soundtrack was spot on, and the ending was great. The acting was very well done, and the casting was perfect. Because of the premise it would be a decent PG rated film, perfect for teens and families if not for the brief nudity and foul language. I would recommend this movie to those who want to have a short respite from their own troubles. The stress level is just enough to keep you wanting to know what comes next, and I found that refreshing. It's not your typical in-your-face, action-packed, adventure film, but the pace is certainly fast enough to warrant being emotionally involved.

There were certain scenes I found funny but I found the acting in the film quite cringy. The female lead "Abby" just seemed really annoying to me, the actress who plays her can't really act. I think if they had gotten better actors for the film it would have been a lot better.

"Gone Doggy Gone" is one of the funniest comedies I saw last year, and definitely one of the most deserving of my laughter. Written and directed by Kasi Brown and Brandon Walter, the audience is introduced to Abby and Eliott Harmon (Brown and Walter, respectively), a married, child-less couple, who, to their friends' vexation, obsessively care for their small dog, Laila, as if it's a baby, but when their dog sitter, Jill (Shaina Vorspan), decides to kidnap Laila for ransom, the Harmons pull out all the stops to try to get their "furbaby" back.

I'm a huge fan of character-driven comedies, so this ended up being quite my cup of tea. The virtually never-ending barrage of punchlines is merely a method to illuminate aspects of this endearing group of personalities to the viewer. All of these characters feel like real people, and none of the comedy destroys that suspension of disbelief.

Cinematography in comedies, while acceptable from a technical standpoint, typically doesn't aspire to be much more than just a documentation of improv, but the photography in "Gone Doggy Gone" not only is technically flawless but occasionally adds to the comedy with visual cues as well. As far as audio, there's really nothing to complain about. The score is not really anything you haven't heard before, but it does its job.

Though a couple conflicts in the story seem a little too easily dealt with, Gone Doggy Gone is easily something I'd recommend to anyone. It's sweet yet edgy, sexy without being raunchy (though it comes really close) and most importantly, strikes an emotional chord – that is, if you sympathize with Abby's feelings about babies. And come on – that dog is adorable.