A Dog's Purpose (2017)

“A Dog’s Purpose” stars Dennis Quaid, K. J. Apa, Britt Robertson, and Josh Gad.  Released on January 27, 2017, the film chronicles a dog who experiences four different lives.

The film is directed by Lasse Hallstrom, who also directed films such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Dear John, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, and The Hundred-Foot Journey.  It is based on the 2010 novel of the same name by W. Bruce Cameron.  This is another film that I didn’t get a chance to see until now because my mother wanted to see it as well.  I can relate to this one a lot because my family and I have two white German shepherds who are named after football players.  They like to cause trouble, but we love them anyway.  So with that in mind, does this film manage to capture the same amount of happiness as having a dog for a pet?

Pros:
Decent performances

Josh Gad’s narration

Good storytelling and themes

Relatable to dog lovers everywhere 

Cons:
Emotional depth was hit-and-miss.  It’s both heartwarming and sad for those who love animals, but may come off as sappy for everyone else.

A bit too long

Final thoughts: “A Dog’s Purpose” successfully fulfills its own purpose of exploring the lives of dogs and their relationships with their owners.  This isn’t the kind of film that’s going to win some big awards, but it is the kind of film that acts like a love letter to people who have dogs that make their lives special.  While its storytelling may not impress those outside of its target audience, the emotion of having a dog in our lives can really tug the heartstrings of multiple dog lovers, especially my mother.  If you’re a dog lover yourself and you enjoy watching feel good movies, this is definitely a film for you.  Just make sure you bring tissues.

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