A strong contender for most ridiculous tearjerker of the year, starring Kevin Costner as a golden retriever.
Yep, it’s another one of those brazenly old-fashioned melodramas (see A Dog’s Way Home, A Dog’s Purpose and A Dog’s Journey) in which a philosophical, quasi-spiritual canine narrator says the cutest things while showing undying devotion to photogenic humans who, naturally, are plagued by chronic illness, bad luck and, in this case, a vicious law suit.
Enzo (Costner) is obsessed by genial, Seattle racing driver Denny (Milo Ventimiglia). He tolerates Denny’s angelic wife (Amanda Seyfried). He adores the couple’s little daughter, Zoe (Ryan Kiera Armstrong).
Zoe, as a baby, is given a stuffed zebra, towards whom Enzo has strong feelings. He hates that zebra. In fact, every time it is mentioned, the film’s tone changes. In terms of shock value, it’s like hearing a key turn in Denny’s front door and suddenly being confronted by a cape-wearing Elvis Presley. Over and over again, you think, “What the?” Which, given that the rest of the film is so turgid, is no bad thing.
Cast and crew are diligent and gifted (British director Simon Curtis made the extremely enjoyable My Week with Marilyn). But they can’t lift the material, or our spirits. Thank heaven for small zebras.
