Watch A Dog Year For Free

People are voting emotionally.

Memorable, crazy movie

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Having no prior knowledge that this movie was based on a year of the writer's own life - I thought it was going to turn out to be some wretched gangster movie with a dog thrown in. Thankfully it wasn't. But, it wasn't much of anything else either. At odd times it looked like it was going to lead somewhere...then, would take a dive. There were one or two nice dog/owner moments - the promise of a training session to add another dimension but, that goes nowhere either. Then it fades out - 'The End' what? All looks like someone trying to prove they could make a tele-movie but forgot about the importance of a script with a complete story. Pity, it's the tail wagging the dog I'm afraid. Some reviewers hinted that only country folk would understand this tale, well maybe only those who have been in the country alone, for too long, and no longer understand the purpose of a story to go with their visuals. Only for the very easily pleased. Still, suppose it could have been worse, although not sure how much.

The "Dude" is back. And with a dog. Jeff Bridges plays a struggling, middle-aged writer (Jon Katz) who of course has writers block, adopts an abused border collie. Another "crazy dog" who's hijinks resemble Marley from "Marley and Me." The dog is seemingly untrainable. Par for the course. Katz already has two wonderfully mannered labs. So why is Katz to blame for his so-called anger with the collie? Who wouldn't be frustrated. But as the wise old dog whisperer told Katz, it's not all about the dog, but Katz and his inner anger. Okay, well, I didn't see Katz or Bridges playing someone who was particularly nasty. But what to do about the writer's block? Then comes the cliché epiphany. Write about his experience with the collie. Viola! I like Bridges. Who doesn't. But this movie plodded along with the same "bad dog" gags one has seen a thousand times. And of course, there's redemption, as dog accepts man and vice versa. And all is well in the world. Not the greatest dog movie around. If it wasn't for Jeff Bridges, I wouldn't have kept watching.

Nothing ever happened, and then it was over.Along the way, I was super annoyed with Jeff Bridges character. He was such a clueless dog owner, and he didn't ever seem to figure anything out. I wanted to yell at the TV he was so dumb and horrible. One minute he's gonna return the dog to whoever sent it to him, then he decides he loves the dog and he wants to keep it, then he's literally throwing the dog on the ground in anger.... He learns a little bit about border collies, and their need for work/exercise, but then he builds a tiny pen for the dog. Really!? I kept thinking that something would be explained or resolved eventually -- why is the dog obsessed with school buses? What's going on with the main character's marriage? Etc. But nothing ever was.Seriously, this movie is utter crap, even worse than Marley & Me, and that's saying something!!!

Not your typical dog movie - here the dog actually acts like a real dog. No talking animals, no over-the-top staged smarts or heroics. It plays more like an episode of the Dog Whisperer - BEFORE they call in Cesar. Bridges plays a semi-creepy sad sack of a blocked writer who, through somewhat unclear circumstances, unwittingly and unwillingly adopts the border collie from hell. Having adopted a somewhat crazed border collie myself, I can say the dogs behavior and interactions with Bridges are spot on, and there is no need for the typical Hollywood (c.f. Beethoven) hyperbole - the dog is not quite the lovable scamp, and the Bridges' Katz is not a wholly sympathetic character. With a little unwelcome help from his friends, peace is eventually made between the writer and his dog. That's the good - the bad is this movie seems to be the anti-Marley - we only get a bare smattering of how the "adoption" came to pass, what the hell is going on between Katz and his family, and what happened to the other yellow lab? One gets the sense of script problems and/or a heavy hand in the editing room, which is too bad because while these details are not important, the missing pieces are distracting, and flaw this otherwise refreshingly realistic, yet still eminently watchable dog flick.