The Dog Problem

Yes if you want to over-analyze the movie components a lot of your dis-mantling can be viewed as true...but if you just sit back and let the movie take you for it's ride, the over-all result is an enjoyable watch, which for me is what movies are about...not that they are technically sound in every category of screenplay writing technique...I enjoyed its whimsical theme, and light hearted flow it maintained throughout. I feel it was written more for steady amusement...and quirky chuckles than to to garner huge laughs...sometimes its cool to enjoy a movie from start to finish, when it keeps your attention and keeps you smiling....

~Jon

Solo (Giovanni Ribisi) is a broke depressed writer. His therapist (Don Cheadle) suggests a pet, and he immediately goes out to buy a dog. This makes Benny (Kevin Corrigan) angry who Solo's owes money to. His friend Casper (Scott Caan) introduces him to rich girl Jules (Mena Suvari) who must have the dog.

The whole thing with the dog makes no sense. Is this a magic dog? Scott Caan has written something that is so desperate to be quirky that it never seemed right. The best part is the sweet stripper Lola (Lynn Collins). She has great chemistry with Giovanni Ribisi. I love their conversations together. But she's not enough for me to recommend this movie.

If I had kept the reviews and comments in mind, I would've never rented this film, but I went with my gut and the fact that Ribisi is amazing and am so impressed with this movie. I loved this movie so much I'm bothering to leave a comment which in itself, for me, is unusual.

This sweet, poignant, simple, and heartbreakingly realistic movie is about a man who buys a dog at the advice of a therapist to improve his life. That's the straight-forward surface story. But as the story progresses, you really start to realize and appreciate the massive similarities between the dog and the main character, and the plight the dog and the emotional growth of the man. No matter what the movie is about or how far-out it is, it should connect with the viewer emotionally, be so realistic to everyday feelings it's scary, make you view you own personal life in a more open-minded revelatory way, and make you consider what life is all about. This is definitely one of those movies.

Based on other reviews and comments, this movie isn't for everyone's tastes. But to me, this is the kind of movie that makes the hundred other semi-interesting but ultimately disappointing movies viewed before it pale in comparison. It's a gem that makes you happy you saw it. It was absolutely brilliant and I loved it.

Solo, a depressed young writer, is told by his analyst to get a dog; this way, he will not feel as lonely. Little does he know that everyone he meets wants to have the dog! Solo's life in Los Angeles is dull up until the time he decides to buy the dog in a shopping mall. Solo is not prepared for the work and the responsibility of owning a puppy, let alone trying to keep it to himself.

This dark comedy was written and directed, as well as acted by Scott Caan. We were impressed by his "Dallas 362", his debut as a director. "The Dog Problem" shows a talented Scott Caan who no doubt will go to do better things, although this is not a movie for everyone since the material will be enjoyed by some audiences and hated by others.

The best thing in the picture is, without a doubt, Giovanni Ribisi, who runs away with it. This actor keeps surprising us. He is not exactly a matinée idol, yet, he is always an interesting figure in any film in which participates. Scott Caan has a small role as a photographer. Lynn Collins, Mena Suvari, and the excellent Kevin Corrigan, are seen in minor roles.

Through out the movie the line life is a delicate negotiation is said. At the end of the movie it is said one last time. What are the lines he says just before he says "life is a delicate negotiation" at the end of the movie? Now other than that I feel this is an excellent movie. I am not much of a writer and I am definitely not one to seriously psychoanalyze a movie. For me that takes away from the movie. So if you want to see a great movie and it is definitely a what I would call a feel good comedy then watch it. I just happened to catch it on one of the movie channels and I would definitely watch it again. So there you are my take on the movie and like I said I am not much of a writer.