Le teckel

Seems like it's too easy to offend people nowadays.

Seriously, if at least 20 users voted 1 for this movie, it is not about director, actors, story or photography. It is more about their state of mind, and some kind of emotional instability.

First of all, this is a movie which has it's own style (moreover Todd Solondz has it's own unique style), which is simple, yet requires certain movie watching experience, and sense for slight surrealism. It was never intended to be artsy, au contraire, it mocks to 'too artsy' attitude...

All characters were intentionally made like caricatures, in order to present their flaws and shortcomings in more obvious, yet funny and sarcastic way. But don't get fooled so easily, all of them reflects real behavior, which we can observe all around us: parents who make up idiotic stories instead of simply tell the truth to their kids, lonely losers with dysfunctional families, worthless but pathologically ambitious people, shameless nerdy hipsters, damien hirst wannabees and such charming creatures...

Simply, it's highly sarcastic, anti-indie, somehow childish-style comedy, which may offend only someone who perceived it as a mirror...

Ah yes, it's called "Wiener-dog" so everyone expected a warm dog story, and they all ended up disappointed? Then watch Disney instead.

It's really a good movie. I can't stop watching it twice at a time. You can find both you,your family,your friends,your neighbor, all of us,in it. It's actually 4 dogs in 4 different stories,which I thought to be 1 dog the first time I watched it. Maybe the only thing characters sharing in common is that they all raise a wiener dog. Its name is wiener-dog, but has not so much to do with it, dog is not main character. People all have their problems, towards living and death.In this movie it shows to us.Maybe you have parents less responsibility; maybe you are losing hope to life,and miss nothing in your place; maybe you're suffering from your career-used to be successful but now nothing; maybe you're facing life ends. It shows us stories in dramatic way, kind of interesting,and also sarcastic. Many scenes impressed me a lot, quite interesting. It's a movie for people who go through life or have their own life thoughts. There is no happy ending, but you won't feel too bad maybe.It's really good.

Todd Solondz makes interesting movies about odd, unattractive people, the people you're trying not to be, while most of other movies Focus on idealized people. I found this hist most entertaining movie so far, which might be either because he has become lighter and funnier, or because this was the first time I saw one of his movies on the big screen. In general I'd say that I find his films are more suited to a proper cinema because it makes it easier to admire his perfectionist visual style and to sit through the movie, which is not always easy.

Solondz follows an art for the sake of art approach that is oddly entertaining and fascinating. You don't get to see this stuff anywhere else. On the other hand, you don't come away with great moral lessons or anything. But then I don't want movies with moral lessons. I tend to get them from my mum already.

Wiener Dog is a set of four short films about four completely different people (a young boy, a young woman, an aging professor and an old Lady) connected only by the successive ownership of a small dog.

It suits Solondz's approach that he doesn't get to dwell on each person for overly long.

This movie is divided into 4 parts, with the only red thread being that the wiener-dog is present in all of them.

About a bunch of pretty odd characters and initially it reminded me a bit of Wes Anderson's work but a bit more darker comedy.

The first part is pretty good with Julie Delpy (amongst others) but the second part is my favourite, with Greta Gerwig and Kieran Culkin I really wish their part was the whole movie they were so good together and I missed them greatly when their part was over. Or maybe continued with the disabled brother played by Connor Long and his girlfriend, those were also really charming.

The third part is a bit of a drag, with Danny Devito as a professor in film-school but it has it's moments even though it doesn't compare at all to the first 2 (especially the second) so the feeling is underwhelming.

The fourth part I didn't like too much either, with Ellen Burstyn and someone who plays her daughter and (douchebag) boyfriend (I don't know their names and I don't think based on their performances here are names worth remembering).

So yeah although initially the feeling was good while watching this the third and fourth act just sort of ruined the party.

If you're a dog-lover and want to watch it for that reason then perhaps this is the wrong movie to pick as the dog is rarely put in the forefront here, especially in the third and fourth act where he just pops up from time to time.

There is a scene in (Danny DeVito) Dave Schmerz's office which shows a movie poster for Dave Schmerz's "Apricots". The poster is clearly based on Woody Allen's "Bananas".

There were lots of little things like this in this movie, just thrown in there but not brought explicitly to your attention.

One of the reasons I appreciate Solondz.

I found this movie very enjoyable and satisfying. It is, though rather subtle about it, a comedy... though many plainly fail to see that. Frankly, I expected something more dry and dark. I ended up feeling really glad I had gone.

Many small things to notice and appreciate, and some very good acting all around. Some genuinely poignant moments sprinkled throughout. There were also a few little digs at recent films... twice a shot of the boy reclining which recalled "Boyhood", and the 'Intermission' plainly mocks "The Hateful Eight"

You probably have to 'get' Solondz, and know what to expect. DO NOT go in expecting a wacky pic about a kooky pup. But if you do get his stuff, I say this is his best since "Happiness"