Teneramente in tre

I just thought this was an exceptionally well-done movie and was a little stunned at its low ratings.

good movie. Caught it on cable today and found myself unable to turn the channel. A Travolta movie I didn't recognize made me stop, but then the movie just caught me. Don't rush right out to get this one, but don't miss it if it is on cable. I love dog movies, this one is really nice. The ending, which I won't spoil, was what I had hoped for, but was afraid not to get. Not a 10/10, but 8/10 is what it deserves. Ellie Raab, funny in The Ref, is warm, touching and beliveable in this movie. John Travolta is a single father, hard to like in this film, but belivable.

I saved this on my DISH DVR from a showing on one of the free weekends of Showtime sometime within the last couple of years. Since my viewing plans are to cut the cable within the next month, I'm spending most of my free time watching what's been stored on the DVR, Eyes of an Angel being one of the titles.

Movie has a slightly disjointed feel as it jumps back and forth between the Travolta character's trials and tribulations and the dog's journey to rejoin the only family he's ever known. If you're a dog lover as am I, some of the scenes are a bit difficult to watch especially those taking place in the dog fighting arena, but minute for minute, the dog's travails are more interesting than are those of Bobby, the hard luck gambler, played by Travolta.

Casting is questionable, specifically that of Jeffrey DeMunn as Bobby's successful brother. DeMunn is a very capable actor, but no one would ever guess he'd be related to Travolta's Bobby.

In a nutshell, a tired story of a low expectations in life aimless loser and his young daughter. Throw in the dog elements and you get a 3/10 star movie. Not sorry I spent the 90 minutes it took to view, but if the producers were trying to humanize the story into a sentimental canine ride, that's the kind of thing Disney used to excel at with deers and dogs. Not so much with this crew.

What should have been a girl and her dog movie becomes just another John Travolta vehicle in EYES OF AN ANGEL. Travolta plays a down-on-his-luck widowed dad of a little girl, played by Ellie Raab, who is essentially a slightly younger version of the Tatum O'Neal role in . Travolta does some work for a bunch of low-level Chicago mobsters, the head of which is Travolta's late wife's brother (Tito Larriva). The brother constantly schemes to take away his niece from Travolta. Travolta ends up stealing a car and lots of money from Larriva, and heads with Raab to his successful brother's (Geoffrey DeMunn) home in L.A. The mobsters quickly figure out where Travolta has gone, and the chase is on. Mixed in with this nonsense is a very large dog that Larriva has thrown off a bridge after a vicious dog fight, and the dog somehow finds its way back to life and into the arms of Raab. They bond and become inseparable, while Travolta keeps trying to separate the two. He dumps the dog as they depart Chi-Town but the dog miraculously follows them all the way to L.A. Unfortunately, way too much time is spent on Travolta and his unlucky life, and not enough on the dog and the girl. They are strictly cyphers in this Travolta ego-driven vehicle. The film is a downer until the wildly improbable final five minutes. But don't see it. You'll want to tear your eyeballs out if you do.

I loved this movie, and so did my husband. I came across it by accident at the video store. That it had never enjoyed a theatrical release, was obvious by the comments on the video box. I rented it anyway, and ended up buying it. I found the acting to be sensitive, the cinematography to be beautiful, and the story uplifting.

I understand "Eyes of an Angel" has been poorly received by the revered movie critics; too violent for kids, boring to adults, etc., but I didn't find it boring or excessively violent.

I'm not too stupid to recognize a really bad movie when I see one. I was raised by intellectual, artistic parents. So I enjoy classical music, rock and roll, Shakespeare and really brainless action movies. I don't automatically like chick flicks just because I'm a chick, and even though I can't stand boxing, I loved Raging Bull! If the film is well made, I'll appreciate it, no matter what the subject.

And for some reason, this film touched me. It made me happy. Perhaps I'm a sucker for a dog story. But you know, everyone I lent the video to, enjoyed it as much as I did.

Go figure!