Dog

Dog
Starring Channing Tatum, Jane Adams, Kevin Nash, O'orianka Kilcher
Directed by Reid Carolin & Channing Tatum

The 1980s saw a resurgence of the traditional man and man's best friend buddy comedy romp, the two most notable being "K-9" and "Turner & Hooch." Films about man and his lovable four-legged companion traversing the country interacting with all types of people and getting into hilarious shenanigans is as typical as they come, and "Dog" is one of the more modern-day films that hold to this tried and true method. In many ways it's reminiscent of the 80s comedies, which in a surprising way is actually refreshing in today's crowded cinematic world. Where you have world-ending films, superhero epic battles, and Oscar-worthy dramatic performances, it's a welcome thing to see a simple, bare-bones story about a (not-so) epic journey that feels completely grounded in reality.

U.S. Army Ranger Jackson Briggs (Channing Tatum) has been living the civilian life since suffering from PTSD, migraines, and seizures from his time in the war, and has problems holding down minimum-wage jobs. He wants to get back in the fight, but his former Commanding Officer doesn't feel he's mentally equipped to do so. When he hears that his old war buddy killed himself, he travels to his old base where he's given an offer: his CO will allow him to serve again if he takes his buddy's former Army service dog from Oregon to the funeral in Arizona. Jackson agrees despite knowing that the dog - named Lulu - also suffers from her time in the war, and is prone to attacking without warning. As their road trip begins, Jackson and Lulu come into conflict several times, but as their days go by, the two become close and learn that sometimes man's best friend can also be man's saving grace - and vice versa.

You can easily predict every beat and pattern "Dog" provides, and while that normally detracts your attention, you can't help but be drawn into the story from the very first moment to the last - or maybe it's personal because I find animal movies the most...stressful, I guess?...movies out there. I still have my own PTSD from "Marley & Me" and every time I see a movie is coming out featuring an animal, I immediately go to Does the Dog Die to find out if the animal dies, and if it does, I will not watch it (I guess that right there gives away a spoiler, but it's one spoiler I don't mind spoiling). It's - as I said earlier - a throwback to the classic 80s buddy films, and not just ones featuring men and dogs. You see hints of classics like "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," "Rain Man," and the like in "Dog," as we engage in the roller coaster ride of the humorous heights (such as coming into contact with a hippie couple, and the trailer's inclusion of Jackson's blind-man's bluff) to the emotional depths (such as the overall concept, which always brings tears to my eyes when I hear of Army service dogs whose handlers die and how they react in a surprisingly human fashion). Yet there's not one moment of the film where the emotions feel forced or manipulative, but just a story about a man, a dog, and their special bond.

This is the feature directorial debut of both Channing Tatum and his frequent producer partner Reid Carolin, and is based off Channing Tatum's own story with his beloved pet who passed away in 2018, whose name was Lulu. This deep emotional connection drives the film, and Tatum manages to pull out his muscle-man charm as the ultimate lovable lug you can't help but love. Likewise, the three Belgian Malinois who play Lulu offer their own moments that makes her as endearing as her human counterpart, even though she obviously doesn't talk. She exhibits emotions just from her mannerisms - from anxious to frightened to comforting and violent - and becomes a full-fledged character all her own. It's not an exceptional film you'll remember years from now, but it's a heartwarming and often humorous tale that's truly as old as time.

Proving you don't always have to re-invent the wheel, "Dog" is a heartwarming and passionate film about the adventures and misadventures of a man and a dog, on an epic road trip of redemption, restoration, and healing.

The Score: B+