Two former Army Rangers are paired against their will on the road trip of a lifetime. Briggs (Channing Tatum) and Lulu (a Belgian Malinois), race down the Pacific Coast to a fellow soldier’s funeral on time.
Chuck says:
There were more than a few things that I didn’t like about “Dog” – its comedy is forced at times, the story meanders a bit and the constant mishaps the protagonists endure become a bit much to take – but in the end, the film’s heart ends up trumping these shortcomings. A sincere examination of the price our veterans pay – both human and canine – is at the core of what is being promoted as a road-trip/buddy comedy. And while there are some funny moments, they are used sparingly, never oversold, much like the sentiment, which is subtly dispensed.
Channing Tatum is front-and-center as Briggs, a war veteran in denial regarding the long-term effects combat has had on him. Eager to re-enlist and get a new assignment, he’s constantly hectoring his former commanding officer for an approval so that he might re-enlist. Reluctant to do so, as his captain realizes Briggs is far more damaged than he cares to admit, he brokers a deal with the reluctant veteran. All Briggs has to do is escort a military dog – Lulu – to her former handler’s funeral.
The road trip from Washington state to Arizona is, of course, littered with unexpected snafus, delays and plenty of bonding between the cunning canine and his desperate new best friend. Blundering into a troubled vet’s pot farm yields understanding from an unexpected source, a hoped-for threesome with a pair following the tantric method goes south and a misguided effort to get a hotel room for free by posing as a blind man never really achieve the laughs hoped for, the latter bit a major miscalculation.
However, there are some moments along the way that bear dramatic fruit. A scene in which Briggs stops at his former partner’s home in an effort to reconnect with his daughter, all done without our hearing the dialogue between the two, effectively underscores the character’s alienation. Equally successful is a sequence in which a visit to a fellow vet (Ethan Suplee), who was also a dog handler, helps Briggs understand all that Lulu has gone through, a moment in which the self-centered soldier finally begins to realize how much he and the dog have in common, as well as how much help he himself needs.
With a running time a bit over 90 minutes, the movie still feels long at times. Screenwriter Reid Carolin and Tatum take on the co-directing duties here, the first time behind the camera for both of them. As with most newbies, pacing is a problem, as far too many moments run too long, resulting in a cumulative somewhat turgid pace. It doesn’t become a major problem, but you may find yourself urging the story forward.
Though Tatum has his tics that need to be addressed before he becomes a complete actor, he has become a solid, reliable presence who understands the power he brings to screen and that at times, stillness is his best friend. He’s proven himself as a dancer, action star and comedian and there are moments here that indicate he may be capable of tackling more serious material.
Perhaps the most refreshing thing about the film is the fact that it underplays its most important moments, using a degree of subtlety when an emotional connection needs to be made. In the age of sledgehammer filmmaking we live in, it’s nice to see that some directors understand that at times, less is more. “Dog” is all the better for it.
3 Stars
