YEAR OF THE DOG (2007)

As an animal lover I really wanted to love this movie. The trailer was cute and the reviews were terrific. Imagine my disappointment when I got an uncomfortably awkward "comedy" that makes animal lovers look ludicrous. I truly felt for the main character when her adorable dog died. The movie was off to a good start, but as it went along she becomes harder and harder to like. I tried really hard to justify her actions, but doing so is just too trying a task. She means well, but goes about things the wrong way. Some people think my love for animals is crazy, but this is on a whole new level. Now, I did like the movie, but not nearly as much as I hoped to. It wasn't as cute and innocent as the trailer would have you believe and the movie just felt too uneven in tone. I almost hate to have anyone who isn't a real animal lover watch it because Shannon's character makes us all look nuts. I watched it with my family which proved to be quite uncomfortable. They all hated her and thought she was insane. I tried to defend her actions to them, but even I knew they were right, though I felt more sympathy for her than they did.

7/10 (B-)

Year of the Dog (2007)



I loved it! Very big surprise. It was incredibly entertaining, cute and hilarious. Molly Shannon is so adorable as Peggy. I always thought she was an underrated actress. The rest of the cast is amazing too. I loved, loved, loved Laura Dern here. She was fucking hysterical. Her character was hilarious. And although I didn't enjoy the second half as much, I still loved it. I liked that it wasn't exactly preachy about the whole animal thing. It just was who Peggy was and it didn't make the other characters look like assholes...Well, except maybe for John C. Reilly's. At least it took it lightly and there was no drama. This is not an animal rights film. Those renting this thinking it will, will be wrong. Last year's biggest surprise!