Dog Days (2018)

“Dog Days” stars Nina Dobrev, Vanessa Hudgens, Adam Pally, Eva Longoria, and Tone Bell.  Released on August 8, 2018, the film chronicles the lives of the dogs and their owners.

The film is directed by Ken Marino, who also directed “How to Be a Latin Lover”.  There’s no denying it.  Dogs are adorable, plain and simple.  They can be a pain to deal with sometimes, but they can also make our lives much more cheerful.  This is another film that I was hoping to take my mother to because she’s a dog lover and she loves to watch movies that involve dogs.  As for me, personally, I was just hoping that it’s as cute and cuddly as the furry co-stars themselves.  Without further ado, let’s see if this canine-related motion picture is a doggone treat or a piece of dog poop.  Dog lovers, this review is for you.

The story is simply a series of events that revolve around different people finding love, dealing with personal problems, and taking care of their canine companions…and that’s all you need to know about it.  There were times where these characters and their misadventures collide with one another, but other than that?  It’s just a by-the-numbers romantic comedy that relies mostly on its tropes and humor rather than smart storytelling.  The film’s structure is pretty similar to the late Garry Marshall’s holiday-related rom-coms such as “Valentine’s Day” and “New Year’s Eve” in terms of switching from one plot to another, which can be a bit problematic if done incorrectly.  Luckily, director Ken Marino was able to give his audience a good amount of time with the characters while also giving these stories a purpose instead of having some of them serve as unnecessary fillers.  All of these stories offer the same message that dog people can relate to.  Dogs are not just man’s best friend.  They’re kind, lovable souls that help their human companions grow to become better people and bring themselves together to share joy with one another.  The way it delivers this message can be just as sappy as a Hallmark movie, but for dog lovers young and old, it’s as heartwarming as the film wanted itself to be.  Most of the cast did a nice job with their performances, including Vanessa Hudgens as Tara and Ron Cephas Jones as Walter.  They’re not award-winning performances, but they know how to make their efforts noticeable.  There were also some attempts at humor that were either silly or awkward…or both.  However, it didn’t get to the level where it is straight-up intolerable for adults, which will make them really happy.  Some of the jokes were able to make me chuckle, and there were some jokes that didn’t rub my belly the right way.

Overall, its usual rom-com cliches and the amount of sappiness won’t convince everyone to let a dog into their lives, but “Dog Days” is a satisfying treat for both families and dog lovers.  This is a harmless and endearing film that I believe kids can enjoy while the parents will be admired by the dogs’ cuteness and its heartwarming message.  I would gladly recommend it to those who wanted a feel-good movie that involves dogs.

B-