The only spoiler that anyone cares about when watching a movie with a dog is whether or not the dog lives. I’m here to tell you the dog does live so you can happily move forward with this review!
“In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight”.
Dog starring Channing Tatum (Briggs), tells the story of a discharged war veteran who sustained a brain injury while on the job, and is desperate to get back into action, but is encountering various roadblocks preventing his return to active duty.
When one of his former unit members, Riley, commits suicide, Briggs decides to attend his wake. Briggs is tasked with driving across the country with Lulu, Riley’s unit dog, to attend the funeral. Lulu has been deemed an extremely violent dog, attacking anyone since Riley’s death, and is constantly required to wear a muzzle, reminiscent of that of Hannibal Lecter’s in Silence of the Lambs.
This film is more than just a simple road trip movie with a man and his best friend. Rather, Dog brings insights into the struggles veterans face on a daily basis upon returning home from duty. Issues including suicide, drug addiction, PTSD, homelessness, and more are brought to light. They are approached in a manner that allows audiences to understand, and perhaps have more compassion for those struggling to reassimilate to civilian life.
Dog is a feel good movie that I would highly recommend for anyone looking for an emotional journey where they will find themselves laughing, maybe shedding a few tears, and opening their minds to being more understanding and compassionate to their fellow neighbors through a man and a dog's path to redemption.
Thank you so much. I really want to see this but as a veteran I am but nervous about how I might feel with the subject matter. I might go see it tomorrow.