MY DOG SKIP
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
Capsule: A well-textured true story of a boy
and his dog made with high production values is
marred by what seems like exaggerated story
telling. Willie Morris, former editor-in-chief of
HARPER'S MAGAZINE, recalls his close relationship
growing up with the title character. It is a
beautiful recreation of 1940s wartime Mississippi
with a good score, and at times the story line is
moving, but Skip is a little too intelligent to be
believed. Not the best dog story going but still
one of the better family films of the year.
Rating: 6 (0 to 10), +1 (-4 to +4)
Roger Ebert talks about going into MY DOG SKIP expecting it to be just another animal film and being won over by it. It reminded him of his dog when he was growing up. I have to say my experience was just the opposite. I admit I happen to like a good sentimental animal story and particularly a dog story. Growing up I also had a dog, Sam, whom I loved very much. And before, during, and after my experience of growing up with Sam I thoroughly enjoyed dog films. Not just the big famous ones like OLD YELLER, but I still get misty over GOODBYE MY LADY and the 1959 A DOG OF FLANDERS. More recently I enjoyed SHILOH. And it was in this vein that I went into MY DOG SKIP actually expecting to like it, even if other people would think me silly.
Quite to my surprise, in spite of expectation and good reviews, it is not a good dog story. And for one very important reason. For a dog film to work, the dog has to be believable. I consider a dog to be a very intelligent animal, but not like Skip. Skip does things that I cannot believe any dog would do. In one scene, Skip's master Willie is supposed to be playing football, but freezes up when the ball falls at his feet. Sizing up the situation, Skip the wonder dog runs forward, picks of the football in his teeth and jumps into Willie's arms. Also, several times in the film Skip plays matchmaker, getting his young master together with a cute little girl. A dog is an intelligent animal, but it is too hard to believe he is that intelligent. Too often when we should be drawn into the story we feel the presence of Skip's trainer just out of camera reach.
Growing up in Yazoo, Mississippi, in 1942 is not easy for Willie Morris (Frankie Muniz). Willis is something of a loner anyway, picked on by the local bullies. Willie does not make friends easily. His closest friend was his next doors neighbor, Dink Jenkins (Luke Wilson) a local sports hero. But Luke went off to war and Willie is lonely and virtually friendless. Willie cannot think of a single friend his own age to invite to his birthday party. And Willie desperately needs friends. Willie's father Jack (Kevin Bacon) seems to have lost any human warmth he had along with a leg in the Spanish Civil War. Willie's loving mother Ellen (Diane Lane) sees her son's loneliness and wants to get the boy a dog. But Jack absolutely refuses.
Of course, we know that eventually Willie will get his dog, but what is unexpected is how having Skip changes Willie's life so completely. Through the dog's ministrations Willie proves himself and befriends the local bully who formerly preyed on him. Skip also arranges to have the prettiest girl in school spread a fondness from Skip to Willie.
The film chronicles Willie's adventures with Skip. Seeing a newsreel about the Canine Corps, Willie becomes obsessed with giving his best friend away to the military effort. (Somehow this seems unlikely but possible.) In another subplot, Dink returns from the war somewhat less a hero than he had been in local sports. Skip will in his way also help Dink. The film frequently repeats an anti-violence message as warfare and hunting are shown to have as ugly a side as is possible to show in a family film.
Frankie Muniz as Willie Morris has to hold the film together as much or more than Haley Joel Osment did in THE SIXTH SENSE. He has an expressive face without the exaggeration that a Macaulay Culkin. Diane Lane is a little idealized as a mother, but less so than the dog. Kevin Bacon seems a little young for fatherly roles. William Ross's score is sentimental and pleasant, though in one action scene seems a little too close to John Williams's style.
Perhaps some leeway is acceptable for sentimentality, but this film was a little too hard to believe at face value. This is an acceptable dog story but not one of the best. I rate it 6 on the 0 to 10 scale and a +1 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
mleeper@lucent.com
Copyright 2000 Mark R. Leeper
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