The Stray

I was pleasantly surprised by the stray. My thirteen year old daughter and wife wanted to see it and I got dragged along. I wasn't expecting much, but ended really enjoying the film. It was an emotional movie, but it didn't feel manipulative like some other dog films. It felt like an honest telling of an important event is these people lives and the dog was a big part of it.

This movie has a beautiful spirit to it. I absolutely loved it. The cinematography is top notch for a low budget indie.

I really enjoyed this film as did my children. It was great to go to a movie that we could all enjoy together. It even got me to tear up a little. The Colorado vistas were stunning. The cinematography was beautiful as was the music. I am not super religious so I was worried about the faith elements of the film, but it wasn't too much. Nothing that I wouldn't do in a similar situation.

Several reviews that I have read comment on how beautiful T. C. Christensen's camera work makes Colorado look without realizing that THE STRAY was filmed in Utah. That's okay though as Utah has stood in for many spots in the world and even outer space. THE STRAY is a fine family film based on the actual experience of the director. I thoroughly enjoyed it while my wife found it to be a little slow. The acting is fine and the dog delightful. I would think that dog lovers will enjoy the film and will agree that the right dog can be life changing. The above was written after seeing the film in the theater. Just finished watching the Blu-ray and was even more impressed with the stunning cinematography. Michael Cassidy and Sarah Lancaster are especially good as a husband and wife who are trying to find the right balance for their life together and their children. Knowing that this is a true story of the film's director (Mitch Davis) adds a special dimension to the film. I can certainly identify with the effect that a dog can have on a family as one recently came into my families life and has been a wonderful influence to us.

I am a sucker for dog stories and true stories and when you put the two together, to me, it's magical. I just finished watching "The Stray" on DVD after finding it at Walmart. I had not heard of it before, but the cover reeled me in. Unfortunately, I am not surprised at the negative reviews here because there will always be those who will find the negative in anything. I guess I am more of a "glass-is-half-full" person. I found this to be a very sweet and touching story, even though there is a scene toward the end that was a little difficult to watch. At the same time, it is life, and sometimes life itself can be difficult to get through, and it's what we do at those times that brings out our true character. If you would like something to help lift you up and give your faith a bit of a boost, in addition to some beautiful scenery, you can't go wrong with this little gem of a movie. It simply touched me.