Review by Lars Lindahl (larsattacks@mail.com)
"My Dog Skip" (2000) **1/2 (out of four)
Directed by Jay Russell Writen by Gail Gilchriest
Starring Frankie Muniz, Dinae Lane, Kevin Bacon, Luke Wilson,Peter Crombie, Clint Howard, and the voice of Harry Connick Jr.
Two young boys fail to become friends due to racism in their hometown. A father, injured during the Spanish Civil War, fears that his son may live the same life as him and thus becomes overprotective. A recent high school graduate is sent off to fight Hitler but comes back an alcoholic trying to drink his troubled experiences away. These examples and many more are all introduced in My Dog Skip, then you never hear about them again. Instead director Jay Russell takes the easy way out and makes a simple movie about a boy and his dog. Sure the terrier is cute and you feel good once the movie ends, but this could have been much much more. Introducing these subplots must have been Russell's idea of playing a joke on the audience. He holds them out like carrots in front of a donkey but he never rewards you by completely developing them. For a film that takes place in Mississippi during the second World War, My Dog Skip does not take enough advantage of the time and place it is set in.
The movie should entertain young viewers though. Although they might not understand any of the World War two references, they will surely enjoy the charismatic little dog that stars in the film. As for adults, the movie may recreate some nostalgic moments for them and the dialogue isn't too amateur like other child flicks. I wasn't disappointed with My Dog Skip, except, like its dog, it's too small of a movie to stand out from others with similar plots. This should sound familiar… a nine year old boy, Will, (Frankie Muniz), scrawny and friendless, is the target for your average cliched school bullies. However, once he receives a dog for his birthday, Will's confidence soars allowing him to get the girl, friends, and respect from everyone in his hometown of Yazoo, Mississippi. But can he and his dog stay out of trouble?
I'll be honest, it was difficult seeing the titular character of Malcolm in the Middle, Frankie Muniz, playing another character in another time period. To be honest, his performance as Will was not very convincing. The southern accent Muniz uses seems fake and at times he lacks any emotion (no nine year old would have a blank look on his face if a drunk looter through an empty beer bottle at him). Muniz has shown extraordinary talent on his television show but he seems to lack it in this role. Other actors are wasted in My Dog Skip. Kevin Bacon and Diane Lane, as Will's parents, are wonderful but rarely used. Luke Wilson, playing the athletic Dink Jenkins, Will's idol living next door, is never given complete closure. The real star here is the dog, who instantly captured the hearts of every member of the audience.
My Dog Skip is a very small movie. There is nothing extravagant here but it still should be fun to watch. If only Russell had dug deeper into the plot and made it a little more specific. He had so many chances to do this, with so many different subplots asking to be developed. Oh well.
Grade: **1/2 (out of four)
Lars Attacks! A teenager attacks past and present cinema http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/larsattacks
larsattacks@mail.com (c) 2000 Lars Lindahl
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