Attraverso i miei occhi

I just got out of watching The Art Of Racing In The Rain

A seriously emotional movie for me, as I had to have my beloved family dog Rocky, put down on Monday, I knew I would cry watching this, and I did.

It is not what you think it is. It is not a racing movie, nor is it a children movie about a mischievous dog, its about the people and their relationships told through the eyes of the dog, voiced beautifully by Kevin Costner.

It has been 13 years since Milo Ventimiglia starred in Rocky Balbo, yet every time he smiles that crooked smile, I'm reminded of Sly. Amanda Seyfried puts in a touching performance whilst Martin Donovan is simply a guy you will hate.

This is a movie that is all heart, I laughed and cried watching it.

I hadn't read the book that it is based on, so only armed with the knowledge of a short synopsis, I really didn't know what to expect. It was actually quite good.

I thought listening to Kevin Costner drone on for a couple hours as a dog's inner monologue would be tedious, but the nuggets of wisdom peppered with the occasional witticism provided ample entertainment. I often felt like I was watching the "Thoughts of Dog" Twitter account played out in cinematic form. I absolutely loved both Milo Ventimiglia and Amanda Seyfried in this. The daughter was also played especially well by Ryan Kiera Armstrong. The relationships between themselves and also with Eve's (Seyfried) parents was perhaps a bit banal at times, but overall was still believable and endearing - although I felt like hitting the dad with my car at several points.

Afterwards, I overheard several people tell the studio rep that they hadn't expected the movie to be a "tear-jerker", and the sobs coming from the gentleman seated next to me seemed to confirm that. However, I found the story to not be overly sorrowful or sad, but inspirational. A guide, if you will, for how to become an exemplary person shown through the filter of a dog's belief that by gaining this knowledge he'll be reincarnated as a human in his next life. (I know it sounds silly, but it was actually quite poignant.)

I read this book several years ago, and I remember crying like a baby in the Charlotte airport on a layover as I read the last two chapters. Tears of sorrow combined with tears of joy streamed down my face, and this little old lady came over to me and said, "Honey, are you ok?" I smiled and just said, "This book is so good!"

Flash forward to the movie, and I literally almost started crying at the very first scene. I hold the book in high regard, and the opening shot of Enzo just brought back so many good memories of the book. As I watched the movie, I felt the producers/director stayed very true to the message of the source material. Do I know scene-by-scene if they stayed true? No, I do not. However, the overall beginning to end conveys the major events that happen, and without a doubt, it was such an incredible struggle not to burst into tears during the final moments of the movie. I was not alone in this as I heard many sniffles in the audience. It was almost sold out on a Tuesday matinee!

The overall message is perseverance, love, loyalty, and being true to yourself. The story of Enzo is a heartwarming story, and I can't recommend this book and movie enough.

I knew I would love this movie, I've been a dog lover my whole life but this story wasn't just about a dog named Enzo but rather about life and all the ups and downs we experience, the highs and lows, losing loved ones, hard relationships...and through it all dogs are always there for us to provide comfort, a friendly bark, to lend a paw, to make us smile even on our toughest days. I'll never know whether they pick us or we pick them it's just one of those things that's meant to be and you find each other along the way. They don't live as many years as we do, but they live a full life while they are here and each one has a story. Thank you for telling Enzo's story.

The Art of Racing in the Rain is one of those films that rips your heart out of your chest, dangles it in front of your face, and ultimately gives it back to you. It is a very faithful adaptation of the original novel, with some changes that I personally thought were for the better. Milo Ventimiglia and Kevin Costner bring their A games to this film. You can feel a very strong connection between their characters Denny and Enzo the dog respectively. Though this film isn't the most groundbreaking out there, it is a very well-made, heartfelt retelling of an incredibly heartwarming story.