Every dog happens for a reason.
A dog goes through a series of reincarnations and gets into assorted scrapes and perils while proving a boon companion to its various owners in A Dog's Purpose.
Based on the bestseller by W Bruce Cameron, this utterly wholesome family movie unexpectedly ran into a storm of negative publicity when celebrity news site TMZ released selectively edited footage purportedly showing a stunt dog being mistreated during filming. Amid calls from PETA for a boycott and a vigorous defence by the producers, the furore led to the cancellation of the film’s premiere yet didn’t appear to dent its strong performance at the US box office.
Putting the scandal aside, the actual movie is a fairly schmaltzy affair. But director Lasse Hallström – no stranger to canine-themed films following A Dog’s Life and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale – ensures that the mix of comedy, adventure and sentiment effectively tugs pet owners’ heartstrings. As the pooch protagonist goes through its different incarnations (including Golden Retriever, German Shepherd and Corgi), Josh Gad provides a frisky voice-over, while Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Britt Robertson and KJ Apa supply reliable support as its human co-stars.
Certificate PG. Runtime 100 mins. Director Lasse Hallström
A Dog's Purpose available on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital Download from Entertainment One.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jLOOCADTGs
