The Dogwalker

I saw this movie with a friend at the 2000 Palm Springs International Film Festival in early 2000. The biggest thing I remember about it was that it was quite enjoyable from beginning to end- I had no real lapses in interest. A good cast (some of whom were on hand to talk after the viewing) with well-played parts. It's a story about a hard-up slacker who finds a "job" walking an old lady's dog. Little did he know that he was getting into a complex, often humorous, sometimes dangerous web of relationships with the woman's family. If I remember correctly, he become's the family's cook, cleaner, and errand-boy, not to mention the object of the sultry teenage granddaughter's (?) desires. If given the chance, I would definitely see it again.

My problem with this movie is that it is amoral. I think that any representation of reality should contain an uplifting moral for life, and i think that is an important function of art.

This movie is genuinely funny in parts, but is racist, sexist and in many other respects stereotypical. There is the desperate housewife, the dumb, emotionally-absent husband more interested in playing golf than in his family, the sexually-precocious daughter, the cantankerous mother; and the racial stereotypes placed upon Gerry's three African-American friends are disappointing, as is their involvement with the drug culture. I don't like to think that ordinary people are so shallow as to be deceitful, lying, perfidious, and that drugs are so everyday a part of existence.

Throughout the movie the African-American characters are never more than companions for somebody else, and fail to present desirable social role models.

I'm sure the director would say that there is an overall message of the movie; that is that there is no morality in life. Relationships are short-lived and you just make do with things you've got. So perhaps this movie is realistic, but as i say i hope it isn't; and even then, i don't believe that should be the point of art.

For that reason i give it an 8 out of 10 - it does not shy away from depicting people as they really are, and it is genuinely funny in places, and in fact it is a memorable movie to watch. The only genuine characters are the dog Lucky and Gerry, the drifter. Perhaps that is what the director intended.

Dogwalker is unique as it intertwines the races as well as the socio-economic aspects of the characters.Creating a sence of love,empthy,conflict and tradgi-comedy. All that for under $500,000.00......W O W

My god this film was awful.

I would bet my left arm that everyone who made positive comments was a shill for the film company.

Poor acting, sluggish pace, insipid dialog, and that's just when it's good.

The characters are as deep as the a puddle on a sidewalk and equally boring.

I can say that is competently lit though the camera moves are frequently.

Avoid at all costs, you'll never get that time back.

No wonder it took 5 years for this movie to come out.

I'd have to say it was the cast of characters that reeled me in.

Will Stewart as Jerry is flawless--I've never liked such an unlikeable character. One forgets he's not such a good guy because the actor has charisma without working it. The performances down the line were unique and authentic--a couple over the top, but overall, fun. The friendships of the young African-Americans and the Senior Citizen crew, with Jerry as their catalyst, was not only hilarious, but the freshest mix I've seen on screen in a long time. The Dogwalker is a quirky comedy mixed with a dark integrity---the movie reminds me of that famous Sinatra quote, "Whatever gets you through the night." That's what the struggle is for each character in The Dogwalker, and it's what created the unity of the cast.