 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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Year of the Dog
- Review Date: August 27, 2007
- PG-13
- Genre: Comedy
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
SNL alum shines as grieving, lonely animal lover.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this dramedy chronicles a pet lover's transformation into a hardcore animal-rights activist. The film portrays veganism and animal adoption positively and casts a negative light on game hunting, wearing fur, and eating meat. Molly Shannon's character is socially awkward and incredibly lonely, so there are some tear-jerking scenes of her after her beloved dog's accidental death. Children who have pets and/or love animals may be disturbed by photographic images of animal cruelty, a wall of mounted stuffed animals, and three instances of pets dying.
What's the story?
In screenwriter Mike White's (Chuck & Buck, School of Rock) directorial debut, Molly Shannon is Peggy, a sweet-but-forgettable woman whose sole intimate connection is with her adoring pet beagle, Pencil. When Pencil dies of toxic poisoning after snooping around a neighbor's (John C. Reilly) yard, Peggy grows despondent -- suffering from the kind of gut-wrenching grief that people go through when they lose an immediate family member. While Peggy's still mourning, animal adoption worker Newt (Peter Sarsgaard) convinces her to rescue an aggressive German Shepherd, which he offers to train. Inspired by and attracted to Newt -- a staunch activist dedicated to various animal causes -- Peggy decides to become a vegan and starts hounding her co-workers to sign petitions, eat animal-free cupcakes, and adopt pets. For the first time, Peggy seems happy, and her busybody work friend Layla (Regina King) immediately notices the lovestruck glow. But when Newt admits he's celibate and is unwilling to have a romantic relationship, a crushed Peggy comes undone. She quickly devolves into a smelly, unkempt dog lady who doesn't even brush her hair or clean her house (which quickly gets filthy after she brings home a pack of rescued dogs).
Is it any good?
Thus far, Shannon's film career has been relegated to supporting quirky-friend roles, in which her manic energy and crack comedic timing get limited screen time. So who knew that the Saturday Night Live alum responsible for underarm-sniffing Superstar schoolgirl Mary Catherine Gallagher was capable of such a subtle, standout performance as an animal-loving wallflower? Throughout Peggy's transformation, Shannon is a vision. Every gesture and expression is perfectly calibrated to evoke pathos and sympathy for the sensitive, loving Peggy.
White, who's confessed that he's a pro-animal-rights vegan, could be construed as making an agenda film, but YEAR OF THE DOG is really a poignant chronicle of love lost and self discovery.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Peggy's character is portrayed. Does the movie link her depression with "craziness"? Is that accurate? What do you think about her belief that humans disappoint but animals always have love to give. Is it healthy for someone to love their pet(s) more than other humans? Families can also discuss how the media deals with social issues like animal rights. Are movies and TV shows an appropriate forum to deal with those issues? Why or why not? Was Peggy justified in taking her niece to the animal sanctuary? What about when she ruins her sister-in-law's fur coats? Kids: What do you think about animal rights?
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Kid, 11 years old
February 1, 2011
AGE
Yes, well, don't be fooled by the title.
The word "b*tch" is used, but according to the title, in the dog way. Some other profanities. Otherwise Peggy is a great animal lover.
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AGE
A Great Movie
This movie is the second best black comedy I've seen. (the other one was Waitress) This film is about the transformation of a dog lover to an animal activist. So she slowly becomes a maniac, to put it bluntly. She does illegal acts to show her activism, but unlike the adult reviewer, I don't think it's propaganda. Yes, I thought the threat to kill was a little too much. Also there's an image of a wall of mounted stuffed animals, two images of animal experimentation, a near-visit to a slaughterhouse and some mild cursing. But it's a good film that teaches us that everyone has something to love.
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AGE
entertaining? no. propaganda? you bet!
I've never liked Molly Shannon. This movie did nothing to change that. It portrays a descent into madness in response to a pet's death. I'm a HUGE dog lover, but vegans and animal-rights activists take it to a wacky extreme, and that's what Shannon's character does. If you say that's not madness, (SPOILER ALERT), attempted murder of the neighbor you suspect of killing your dog certainly IS. Described as a dark comedy, this movie is all dark and very little comedy.
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| Studio: | Paramount Vantage |
| Director: | Mike White |
| Cast: | Molly Shannon, Peter Sarsgaard, Regina King |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 97 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | April 19, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | August 28, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | some suggestive references. |
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