Night of the Dog

I went to see this film at the Palm Beach Film Festival last Friday and I had a riotous good time. I laughed throughout the whole thing. I commemorate all six of these "gentlemen" for not only being brilliant writers and directors, but great actors as well. The brilliance of this film came from the fact that originally it was four different films ranging from twenty to thirty minutes long each, and the six managed to splice these movies perfectly together in one hilarious, ensemble movie. The Six truly are the next Broken Lizard, and like BR, they will deliver soon-to-be classic, or cult classic, comedies like SUPER TROOPERS and CLUB DREAD.

I give this movie two thumbs up. WAAAAY UP.

HEHEHEHE.

Just got back from the Palm Beach International Film Festival where it was too windy...and there was too much catfish on the menu. Anyway, as there is at every fest I attend, there was one film that snunk out of the bushes and blew this old man away. I'm no prude, but NIGHT OF THE DOG made me blush for laughing at extreme violence, perversity (especially one character's "f**k banter") and character's so stupid and lovable...well shoot, I wished I was back in my old days on the college campus. This is one wild, hysterical ride...and I have no doubt you'll be hearing all the unforgettable line whisper beyond the herb-smelling doors of dorm rooms before too long. It's funny...most indie films and filmmakers worry so much about the "look" and "message" of indie and art films, they produce lifeless, yet polished, garbage. NIGHT OF THE DOG makes the story and energy their first priority, like "Clerks," "Slacker" and "Stranger than Paradise" before them. It was the toast of Palm Beach and I was happy to join in on the fun.

I also caught this film at the Palm Beach Film Festival. It was very entertaining, and I thought it an outstanding freshman effort. I hope it gets wider release. I can picture this as the next cult film, like "Office Space". Very entertaining. Some of the story lines were uneven, but the acting was superb, and my friend and I laughed the whole way through. Good luck to the filmmakers, and anyone who has a chance to catch this little gem, please do. It will be time well spent.

This movie is really 4 stories about lousy romances, linked by the fact that all the men in the film work together at a movie theater. I don't want to spoil it and go into too much detail, but the funniest one in my opinion was the "phonebook" sequence. And yes, the filmmakers did all work at a "fascist" (their words) movie theater, which acted partly as their inspiration.

Night of the Dog is a night that almost makes me want to get a dog. The writing is such that you almost think it wasn't written, it all flows so smoothly. You think the camera just followed these guys around for the night. The acting substantiates this illusion. Peter Michael Donovan is brilliant as the guy helping out his friend (even if it's not by sleeping with the guy's girlfriend), & Jeremy Catalino brings the terror of a man on the run right up to your face & wags its briefs-clad fear inches from your nose. Eshom Nelms is very believable as the frustrated antenna-ball artist who finds a new career thanks to the next-door neighbors. The drama & surprises keep it exciting while the comedy keeps the surprises pleasant. Not one for the kiddies. Oh, & the original music by Peter Donovan is as catchy as anything you'd hear on The O.C. Look for the alternate ending on the DVD.

not only is this film funny, but the young cast and film makers prove to be talented and endearing. there are 3 segments to the film written by 3 different people, and while this can usually lead to total chaos it manages to flow well in the film. the directors/writers are able to mix dirty humor with genuine emotion and have created an American pie-esquire movie that can have you both laughing and cheering for characters. i highly recommend this film to anyone looking to watch a sweet/entertaining movie that has more heart than most of the crap the big studios have come up with. you wont be sorry you viewed it and if nothing else you'll have "one hell of a night."