I wanted to like Must Love
Dogs, I really did. It stars an actress I adore
(the luminous Diane Lane), an actor I’ve come to accept (regular Joe
John Cusack), and sports a premise (two damaged people give love one more
try) that I enjoy whenever it’s done right. And yet, somehow, I just
couldn’t embrace this film. Though the chemistry between the two
principals is convincing and each of these performers does a fine job of
cultivating empathy, something is missing.
The first sign of trouble occurs in the opening
minutes, as Sarah (Lane), divorced for eight months and content to wallow
in self-pity, becomes the focus of a family intervention. Her well-meaning
siblings, led by sister Carol (Elizabeth Perkins) and her father
(Christopher Plummer), are intent on setting up Sarah on a date and have
gathered to assail her with phone numbers and photographs of eligible
bachelors. Whenever a writer resorts to employing a family of overbearing
folks, you know that a few more clichés are bound to follow.
The predictability of the film can be excused to a
certain extent because it is simply following a successful formula
that’s still capable of working. However, for that to happen, those
involved in the film must have a sense of enthusiasm for the material
— and that’s only seen fleetingly. Plummer, consummate pro that
he is, steals every scene he’s in by wisely underplaying a role that
could easily have been botched by a lesser performer. Lane and Cusack also
do fine jobs, hitting their marks and saying their lines with conviction,
but there’s very little passion between them.
Though I wasn’t expecting a love story for the
ages, I did hope for a romantic comedy that would cause me to become
emotionally invested in its characters. Unfortunately, Dogs isn’t up to the task and
comes off as, despite all of its good intentions, an incomplete film. Trust
me on this one; you’ll be better off staying at home, soaking in the
tub, and reading a good book.
Also in theaters this week. . .
Hustle & Flow [R] As a
Memphis hustler struggling with middle age, DJay (Terrence Howard) grapples
to make it in the world of hip-hop with a little help from Skinny Black, a
rap sensation. Parkway Pointe
March of the Penguins [G]
A look at the fascinating trek of the Emperor Penguins through the extreme
region of the Arctic to their traditional breeding ground. Narrated by
Morgan Freeman. Parkway Pointe
Sky High [PG] In a
community where being a superhero is ordinary, Will, the son of two
prominent superheroes comes to terms with his powers and the pains of
adolescence. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Stealth [PG-13] The U.S.
military replaces skilled fighter pilots with artificial intelligence, and
when the computer fighter jet loses control, three pilots are sent in to
save the day. Parkway Pointe, ShowPlace
East
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 3, 2005.
