Dil Dosti Aur Dogs

I caught "Dil Dosti Dogs" last night and I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about it.

On one hand, it's got these really touching moments between people and their canine companions that hit you right in the feels. On the other hand, the whole thing feels like it's trying too hard to make us cry.

First, the good stuff. Masumeh Makhija absolutely steals every scene she's in. Her performance has this quiet dignity that grounds the film whenever it threatens to become too cutesy. The dogs themselves are incredibly well-trained and manage to convey more emotion than some human actors I've seen this year (no names mentioned).

Another highlight is the unexpected comedy that comes from Neena Gupta's portrayal of a grumpy old woman who swears she hates dogs but ends up bonding with a scrappy little one. Their grudging friendship provided some of the biggest laughs and, surprisingly, one of the most tearjerking moments in the third act.

Now for the not-so-great. Just when you're invested in a character's emotional journey, the film throws in a slapstick sequence that feels imported from another movie entirely.