Rental Review: Dead Dog

By Ryn Gargulinski
Despite the plot outline on the box that seemed to promise this flick would be totally inane, it was actually quite entertaining.

Perhaps I’m prejudiced because it’s set in New York City and involves a man who seeks revenge on the driver who kills his Golden Retriever with a hit and run.

The plot thickens to have the dog owner blaming his fiancée for the dog’s death and his desire to flee to Georgia and live on a hog farm.

Yes, sounds stupid – but it’s fast paced, lively, witty, full of paranoia, obsession and deceit – not unlike a typical day in NYC, whether one owns a dog or not.

As with other movies with “dog” in the titles (i.e. Reservoir Dogs, Dog Day Afternoon) we do get our share of violence, but not in a blood and guts way but more in a somewhat irrational and accidental manner.

The stereotypical characters, who include a smarmy lawyer, a porno-happy cheating slimeball and a salesman who talks slick enough to convince a crotchety old salesman-hating businessman salesmen into spending $10,000, add to the amusement.

Highlight: The ending court scene, which I will not describe and therefore ruin. The characters, even the smarmy ones, were also very likable.
Lowlight: Realizing I, too, may become that obsessive if someone were to kill my dog and flee the scene.
Rating (1-10): 7.82

Please note: I could have thoroughly enjoyed this movie to an extent because it was a very welcome break from the other random picks of late, which all seem to involve homosexual males in a torrid affair who either ruin each other’s lives or kill someone.