'A Dog's Purpose' A Review

A Dog's Purpose is a family dramedy about the various incarnations of a dog's soul. The dog is the companion of a small town boy, part of a CPD K9 unit, a lap dog for a lonely women, a forgotten accessory in a red neck couples back yard among others. In each life the dog(voiced by Josh Gad) attempts to discern the purpose of life while having as much fun as possible.

The supporting human cast as the various dog owners- Dennis Quaid/K. J. Apa/Bryce Gheisar all as Ethan at various ages, John Ortiz, and Kirby Howell-Baptiste- are all wonderful with great chemistry with their canine counter parts. Although potentially sickly sweet there is never any winking at the camera or cliche, the actors are both funny and sincere. The dogs, of course, are the real stars and what comes across is not only that they're well trained but that they are incredibly emotive. The dog actor human actor parings are all rife with possible pitfalls but they manage to hit both humor and the heartstrings in a perfect balance.

The story seems on the surface to be family friendly fluff but remarkably portrays some of the suffering dogs have to endure in various situations as well as the satisfaction that can be found in human companionship. This duality, and the seriousness which the film delves into both the dark and the sweet, elevate this seemingly pedestrian dog film to something much more moving and entertaining, dare I say sophisticated, than what it at first appears to be.

A shockingly effecting and enjoyable film about the small(or perhaps cosmic) role pets play in our lives.

See It.