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My Dog Skip, 2000
Willie Morris (Frankie Muniz) is small for his age and friendless, living in a small town during WW2. To help with his maturity and his social isolation, his parents (Diane Lane, Kevin Bacon) get Willie a dog, Skip. Skip begins to open up Willie's life to connect with other kids his age, as well click with a girl he likes (Caitlin Wachs).
I have to say, in all honesty, that if this film had come out when I was like 10 or 11, it would probably be a nostalgic favorite. My expectations were pretty low---especially with that cover of the dog staring at the toilet and Muniz giving a "whatcha gonna do?" shrug--but I didn't dislike the film it all, nor was it as cloying as I was expecting.
Strength-wise, I do like Muniz as an actor. I liked him on Malcolm in the Middle, and I think he's capable of both comic timing and some more serious dramatic moments. The film also has a pretty decent supporting cast, including Lane and Bacon as the parents and Luke Wilson as Willie's next door neighbor who ends up going overseas to fight in the war. The dog was charming, and clearly very well-trained so that scenes could play out without a ton of editing cuts.
The downsides are all what you expect in a "family film." Even with the caveat that the film is highly subjective to Willie's experience, there are a lot of plot elements that are touched on a bit too lightly. I was never entirely satisfied with how Willie's father was handled as a character---from his reluctance to let Willie have a dog to finally feeling like he is a young man. This is a father who wants his son to "man up," but he gives him a stuffed animal as a birthday present? It just didn't make sense. Likewise, plots involving the neighbor Dink, the issue of racial segregation in their town, and even the bullying Willie receives feel incomplete.
If you want someone to feel real strong feelings about a plot involving someone who loves an animal, I'm basically your best bet. So I was emotionally invested in the film. And, yeah, thanks to the blessings of the hormonal cycle, I cried many times. (Like, I cried when he took the puppy out of the carrier at the beginning and I was like "Uh, oh," because I knew that heralded much unearned crying to come!). I do think that in many moments---often just some of the montages of Willie and Skip playing together--the film does capture the way that a pet can really bring out a strong side in a child. That having a focus and responsibility can be really great for some kids, especially those who aren't as socially adept.
I can see how this would be a Sandlot-esque favorite for someone who was a kid when it first came out.
My Dog Skip, 2000
Willie Morris (Frankie Muniz) is small for his age and friendless, living in a small town during WW2. To help with his maturity and his social isolation, his parents (Diane Lane, Kevin Bacon) get Willie a dog, Skip. Skip begins to open up Willie's life to connect with other kids his age, as well click with a girl he likes (Caitlin Wachs).
I have to say, in all honesty, that if this film had come out when I was like 10 or 11, it would probably be a nostalgic favorite. My expectations were pretty low---especially with that cover of the dog staring at the toilet and Muniz giving a "whatcha gonna do?" shrug--but I didn't dislike the film it all, nor was it as cloying as I was expecting.
Strength-wise, I do like Muniz as an actor. I liked him on Malcolm in the Middle, and I think he's capable of both comic timing and some more serious dramatic moments. The film also has a pretty decent supporting cast, including Lane and Bacon as the parents and Luke Wilson as Willie's next door neighbor who ends up going overseas to fight in the war. The dog was charming, and clearly very well-trained so that scenes could play out without a ton of editing cuts.
The downsides are all what you expect in a "family film." Even with the caveat that the film is highly subjective to Willie's experience, there are a lot of plot elements that are touched on a bit too lightly. I was never entirely satisfied with how Willie's father was handled as a character---from his reluctance to let Willie have a dog to finally feeling like he is a young man. This is a father who wants his son to "man up," but he gives him a stuffed animal as a birthday present? It just didn't make sense. Likewise, plots involving the neighbor Dink, the issue of racial segregation in their town, and even the bullying Willie receives feel incomplete.
If you want someone to feel real strong feelings about a plot involving someone who loves an animal, I'm basically your best bet. So I was emotionally invested in the film. And, yeah, thanks to the blessings of the hormonal cycle, I cried many times. (Like, I cried when he took the puppy out of the carrier at the beginning and I was like "Uh, oh," because I knew that heralded much unearned crying to come!). I do think that in many moments---often just some of the montages of Willie and Skip playing together--the film does capture the way that a pet can really bring out a strong side in a child. That having a focus and responsibility can be really great for some kids, especially those who aren't as socially adept.
I can see how this would be a Sandlot-esque favorite for someone who was a kid when it first came out.