[yasr_overall_rating]
A dog looks to discover his purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes and owners.
Remember that movie, “Look Who’s Talking,” where a fetus commentated the entire birthing process and the first year of its life? Well, this is the dog version, but instead of commentating about the birthing process, this dog speaks to us from several canine life spans. Of course, a dog’s life is much shorter than the average human’s lifespan and in a matter of a few decades was able to recycle his life several times. The movie, “A Dog’s Purpose,” follows the life of a precocious dog through several owners and lifestyles replicating the various lives a dog lives on earth. Based on a book by Bruce Cameron, this film never settles on a purpose worth being distinguished by a film.
Cue in mystical starry skies and a newborn pup is born with an inner dialogue. This little pup tries to figure out his life’s destiny before his life is cut short the first time. The canine is then reincarnated, he wakes up in a cage before escaping and being caught by a couple of bad men who leave him locked in their truck in the heat. A mother and son spot the dog in bad condition and break him out of the vehicle. Taking the dog home, Elizabeth and her nine-year-old son, Ethan, manage to convince Ethan’s dad, Jim, to allow the dog to stay. With a new name to match his new life, Bailey is invented. Ethan and Bailey soon become inseparable. The only disappointment in this life early on is Jim’s penchant for booze. Time passes, and Ethan grows up, he finds the love of his life as a teenager and manages to get a football scholarship to college, far away from daddy.
When Jim attacks Elizabeth while drunk, Ethan kicks his father out of the house. A jealous teen on the same football team decides to play a prank but ends up setting Ethan’s house on fire with everyone (but Jim) still in the house. Bailey jumps to attention waking the household and alerting them to the fire. Unfortunately, Ethan is injured jumping from the second story and loses his scholarship. Self-pity leads him to break up with his girlfriend, Hannah. Before long, he decides to attend a school to learn to run his grandparent’s farm. Bailey soon moves out of this beloved life and on to his third reincarnation.
Bailey becomes Ellie, a beautiful German Shepherd, K-9 unit dog, in Chicago. Her new owner Carlos is a troubled man, sad at the loss of his wife. Slowly, the bond between cop and dog is undeniable, despite Ellie wishing for a life with more happiness instead of just work. As a police dog, Ellie assists Carlos in capturing a kidnapper and saving the life of a pre-adolescent girl. Saving Carlo’s life is the last action Ellie performs before dying in the line of duty.
A new pup is born, and this time the protagonist is now a Corgi named Tino. His new owner is Maya, a college student lonely and in need of companionship. Before too long, Maya and Tino fall for another owner and dog couple, Al and Roxy. A new family is born as Maya and Al marry and have children. As the children grow, Maya needs Tino less and less, which is ok because he has Roxy for company. When Roxy passes, Tino’s life loses purpose but soon finds himself in another life.
Now the protagonist is a part Saint Bernard mix named Waffles. His new owners live a poor lifestyle leaving the dog outside in the cold day and night. Soon the couple decides to get rid of the dog and leave him outside by a train. Waffles slink around town, envisioning past lives when he comes across a dog park and smells something familiar. His sense of smell leads him back to Ethan with a reinvigorated happiness. He manages to find someone else from this past life and convince Ethan, who is now on the brink of elderly, he is the same dog from Ethan’s childhood. Now Bailey understands the purpose of his life as his full circle stops in a place of happiness.
If you are a cryer then bring some tissues with you as this movie is a tear-jerker. The film is a sweet family movie but fails to deliver what the first line promised: a purpose. The offered purpose is too simplistic to have an entire film based on. The movie should have been presented as a reincarnated dog finding happiness with his soul mate owner. The other issue with this movie is a lack of a target audience. The grandiose purpose of this film is not intended for children but is too small in scope for adults. Let this just be a heart warming flick about man’s best friend and try not to impose a grander meaning. What the movie does manage to do is show dogs really are man’s best friend and they’re for man in times of loneliness when companionship by fellow humans is lacking.
Let’s not look past the humor this film provides with the inner monolog of a dog. Chase cat, chase tail, throw the ball and let me protect you. The inner workings of the main character are exactly what you would expect from a canine. The puppies are adorable and bring plenty of ooh’s and aah’s from the audience. The dogs are also furry balls of sunshine, which everyone will enjoy. If you enjoy this flick as a sweet love story, a companion for the lonely, and a bunch of cute dogs and puppies, then you will enjoy the film. Ignore the purpose the director is trying to impose on the audience and enjoy the cute reinvented dog.
Available on Blu-ray, DVD & On Demand May 2nd
