Day Eighty-Eight: Year of the Dog

YEAR OF THE DOG

Starring:
-Molly Shannon
-John C. Reilly
-Peter Sarsgaard

Written & Directed by: Mike White

MPAA Rating: PG-13


Wow. What a depressing little movie this is. I mean it. Seriously depressing. Dogs die, friends are stupid, families are stupid, and bosses are boring. Now that you have read this sentence, you know the basic gist of this film.

Molly Shannon plays Peggy Spade, a somewhat nerdy secretary whose obsession with animals almost drives her over the edge.

There are moments in this film that really tug on your heartstrings. Sadly, the majority of the supporting characters have more feeling, more drive, and more, I don't know, oomph than poor Peggy. This movie attempts to detail her process from seemingly normal, albeit boring, single pet owner to vegan animal rights nut job who blows off her family, friends, and job to save chickens.

To say the least, I was not impressed and barely made it through the film. I respect Mike White and the filmmaking, but the story just falls flat on its furry little bottom.

FINAL GRADE: D-

Off in search of poor, poor Pencil,

M.