Dog Days

Heartwarming films are becoming the hot ticket type of film whether they be artistically created or not. Certainly in a day and age of violence, drugs, global wars, famine and natural disasters our society needs something to escape into where they can feel good even if it's only for a two-hour running time. So when "Dog Days" was released I had to believe that this would profit.

This story is a hilarious and heartfelt ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple dog owners including Elizabeth (Nina Dobrev), Jimmy (Tone Bell), Dax (Adam Pally), Grace (Eva Longoria) and Ron Cephas Jones, and their beloved fluffy pals around sunny Los Angeles. When these human and canine's paths start to intertwine, their lives begin changing in ways they never expected. From lost dogs to spoiled dogs to adopted dogs to injured dogs, the owners are put to the test as they grapple with uncertainties of what is to become of their fearless canines as one situation begins connecting with another.

Others to round out the cast are Vanessa Hudgens as Tara, Rob Corddry as Grace's husband, Lauren Lapkus as Daisy, Finn Wolfhard as Tyler, Jon Bass as Garrett, Thomas Lennon as Greg, Jessica Lowe as Greg's wife and Michael Cassidy as Doc.

This was adequately directed by Ken Marino ("How to Be a Latin Lover" '17) plus tons of TV. This filmmaker has done a tremendous amount of acting so he does know what it's about to know how to work with his actors he directs, but since he only has one other theatrical film to his credit in the director's chair, he has a ways to go. Certainly his plethora of work in TV will only serve him in the future, but now, although his directing is good, it's not Academy Award level at this point, and shouldn't be. It was written by Elissa Matsueda ("Spare Parts" '15, "Reversion" '15, "The Miracle Season" '18), and Erica Oyama (tons of TV) based on a story by Matsueda. Although Matsueda having the lion's share of the theatrical film experience here, the script was still slow and was definitely long-in-the-tooth. For a running time of an hour and fifty-three minutes, this could've been cut to an hour and forty minutes easily and still be able to get its point of storyline across to its audience. The one thing that surely helped this was the fact that it wasn't made where the animals talked. That format it trite since it has been a bazillion times which makes those films silly and stupid. This had an interesting concept of bringing these people's lives together via the dogs; it's just sad that it simply dragged so much until it got to the place it needed to land.

If you love dogs or have a family and looking for a great family film to go see, this will certainly fit the bill. Heartwarming, family films are much needed more and more today considering the volatile society in which we live. And besides, who doesn't like a film where man's best friend has the star power here?

Out of 4 Stars: 2.5                                     Rated: PG                                    113mins.