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If he thought about it, Briggs ( Channing Tatum ) might believe that the injuries from his service as an Army Ranger have taken everything he had and everything he needed. But he does not think about it. Despite his doctor’s warnings that he has some permanent impairment, he's determined to get back into the Rangers. Service gives him structure, purpose, fellowship, and enough adrenaline to not have to think about the many things he doesn't want to think about, including how much more there is still to lose. 

Briggs needs sign-off from an officer to be readmitted to the Rangers, who call themselves “the Army's premier direct-action raid force.” He has been repeatedly turned down. Finally, an officer says he will authorize Briggs’ reinstatement if he will perform one task, delivering an Army dog to the funeral of a veteran who served with Briggs. The dog is Lulu, a sweet-faced Belgian Malinois who performed many brave rescue operations, but who now is so severely traumatized from being in a war zone that no one can go near her. She has sent three people to the emergency room and been deemed un-salvageable. Until the funeral, she is muzzled and on Prozac. After the funeral, she is scheduled to be put down. 

Briggs, who has said he would do anything to get back into the service, does not want to do this. “You’re asking me to take a dog on a plane to Arizona?” The officer responds, “I’m asking you to drive a Ranger to a funeral.” The dog is too unstable to fly; indeed, Briggs is warned not to let her near any person or animal. But if Briggs can deliver Lulu with no mistakes and no trouble, he can get the approval he needs.

Of course, there will be mistakes and there will be trouble on the road from Oregon to Arizona by way of Los Angeles. There will also be connections from the past, both in person and via an extensive, heartfelt, and very detailed notebook kept by Lulu’s Ranger handler. 

Tatum the actor responds exceptionally well to Tatum the co-director (along with co-screenwriter Reid Carolin , both directing a feature for the first time). In his previous films, Tatum has mostly relied on his natural all-American charm, a boy-we’d-like-to-have-next-door combination of confident strength and self-deprecating humor. We have seen him unhappy and under stress but almost always as a character who keeps those feelings hidden. Here we see his range, with more vulnerability than he has shown on screen before. Briggs tries his utmost to hide his struggle from everyone, including himself. But Tatum lets us see it, without consideration for movie star vanity.

Carolin and Tatum play it safe in some other choices, though, with too many sun flares and postcard-pretty shots of the beautiful western countryside and some on-the-nose song selections for the soundtrack. We do not need to hear Kenny Rogers singing “The Gambler” again; when it comes to that song, it is time to fold ‘em. One of the stops on the road trip is in Portland, and the tired jokes about too-twee Portlandia-ness and Briggs’ efforts to adapt in order to get laid wear thin fast. 

What we’re there to see is two wounded warriors, one human, one canine, heal each other, and that works well. There are some surprising detours along the way, with some characters more interesting than the crunchy Portlandians. The always-welcome Jane Adams brings her delicate sensibility to a character who could easily have been caricatured. Interactions with two other vets also benefit from thoughtful performances. 

Both Briggs and Lulu learn that the skills they relied on in the military might need to be un-learned, or at least kept in check. Lulu knocks down a man in a hotel lobby only because he is wearing Middle Eastern robes. Briggs learns that perhaps you don’t enter someone’s property the way you enter enemy territory, even if you think your dog might be there. They also learn that those skills can have some value in a civilian life, as long as Briggs and Lulu learn to think differently about what they are trying to accomplish with them.

“Dog” is uneven in tone and quality but shows promise in the way Tatum and Carolin approach the story with care and heart. It leaves us optimistic for the future ahead for the wounded warriors and for the people who told their story.

Now playing in theaters.

Nell Minow is the Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com.

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Rated PG-13 for language, thematic elements, drug content and some suggestive material.

101 minutes

Channing Tatum as Briggs

Jane Adams as Tamara

Kevin Nash as Gus

Q'orianka Kilcher as Niki

Amanda Booth as Tiffany

Aqueela Zoll as Callan

• Channing Tatum
• Reid Carolin
• Brett Rodriguez

Cinematographer

• Newton Thomas Sigel
• Leslie Jones
• Thomas Newman

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‘Dog’ Review: Man and Beast Hit the Road

In his directing debut, Channing Tatum plays an Army Ranger on a healing journey with a canine comrade.

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By A.O. Scott

Road comedies that pair an animal and a movie star are a minor genre unto themselves. The best examples, in my opinion, involve Clint Eastwood and an orangutan named Clyde , though the recent one with Eastwood and a rooster wasn’t bad. Channing Tatum is a different kind of screen presence — sweeter, chattier, bulkier — and in “Dog,” which he directed with Reid Carolin, he amiably shares the screen with (spoiler alert!) a dog.

She is a Belgian Malinois named Lulu (played by three talented canines), and she has served in the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan. So has Tatum’s character, Jackson Briggs, a former Army Ranger living in a cabin in the Northwest. A history of brain injuries has kept him out of action, but he hopes that a good word from his commanding officer will give him a chance to go back overseas.

To make that happen, Jackson agrees to accompany Lulu from Fort Lewis, Wash., to Nogales, Ariz. The reason for the road trip is the funeral of her handler, a Ranger whose death in a car crash haunts Jackson and the film. While “Dog” is a man-beast buddy movie, it’s also preoccupied with grief, trauma and the challenges of post-combat life. Lulu and Jackson are both wounded warriors who must learn to trust each other and help each other heal.

Though much is made of Lulu’s ferociousness, the film’s humor is gentle and mostly unthreatening. She chews up the seats in Jackson’s already battered Ford Bronco, disrupts his potential threesome with a pair of Tantra practitioners in Portland and causes an unfortunate ruckus in a San Francisco hotel. Jackson has variously awkward, hostile and touching human encounters, notably with New Age cannabis growers and a resentful, racist police officer.

“Dog” is unabashedly sentimental. A movie about a dog and a soldier could hardly be otherwise. Luckily, Tatum’s self-deprecating charm and Carolin’s script keep the story on the tolerable side of maudlin. It’s also circumspect about Lulu and Jackson’s experiences of war, which is vaguely understood as something horrible but also glorious. Neither one is as complex as a real dog or a real man would be, which makes the movie an easy watch, but at the cost of some credibility. It’s friendly and eager to please, but it won’t quite hunt.

Dog Rated PG-13. More barking than biting. Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes. In theaters.

An earlier version of this article misstated the state where the road trip in “Dog” begins. The starting point is in Washington, not in Oregon. 

How we handle corrections

A.O. Scott is a co-chief film critic. He joined The Times in 2000 and has written for the Book Review and The New York Times Magazine. He is also the author of “Better Living Through Criticism.” More about A.O. Scott

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Review: How is Channing Tatum’s directorial debut? Playful, laidback and pretty good

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The underdog is a good position for Channing Tatum. Despite being one of the most beloved himbos of Hollywood — thanks to his affable screen presence, up-for-anything attitude and obvious good looks — it still feels like we, as a population, underestimate Tatum a bit, especially as he makes his directorial debut with “Dog.”

Tatum shares the director’s chair with frequent producing partner and “Magic Mike” and “Magic Mike XXL” writer Reid Carolin, who is also making his directorial debut. Carolin and Brett Rodriguez penned the script about a former Army Ranger, Jackson Briggs (Tatum), who is tasked with delivering another veteran to the funeral of an Army buddy who has died in a car accident. The vet in question happens to be Lulu, a Purple Heart-decorated combat dog, a Belgian Malinois whose handler was Jackson’s pal Riley.

Like Jackson, she’s riddled with bullet scars, emotional triggers and the residual effects of war trauma, and she’s no longer a useful asset to the U.S. Army. Jackson agrees to drive “Dog” (as he refers to her) from Washington to Arizona in hopes of receiving a recommendation for a private security contractor gig, despite the lingering effects of his own traumatic brain injury.

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Tatum, Carolin and Rodriguez have been collaborating, and grappling with the effects of war, since Kimberly Peirce’s 2008 film “Stop-Loss,” in which Tatum co-starred, with Carolin producing and Rodriguez serving as a military consultant. The trio also produced the 2017 HBO documentary “War Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend,” which makes “Dog” feel like a natural culmination for this creative partnership. The amount of time that this project has been marinating, plus the informed understanding of PTSD, brain injuries and the role of the combat dog, all help the film to effortlessly convey complex issues.

It’s a more serious register than the effervescent celebration of beefcake that is the “Magic Mike” films, but filmmakers Tatum and Carolin know what the people want, too, and place Jackson in all manner of ridiculous situations to capitalize on Tatum’s natural charisma (and abs). Yes, we want to see Tatum navigate a potential sexual encounter with two tantric healing practitioners (Emmy Raver-Lampman and Nicole LaLiberte) in Portland, Ore.; bond with a pot-farming couple (Kevin Nash and Jane Adams) against all odds; and tangle with a San Francisco cop (Bill Burr) after attempting to scam a free hotel room. And yes, we also want to see Tatum emoting in a sopping wet T-shirt — which the filmmakers happily deliver.

The road-trip high jinks add a level of absurdity to the proceedings that keeps “Dog” from ever getting too heavy or maudlin. Typically, movies about dogs are unrelenting tear-jerkers, but Tatum and Carolin resist sentimentality, resulting in a film that’s refreshingly frank and surprising when the emotional moments do hit (and do they ever).

Newton Thomas Sigel’s cinematography has a propulsive flow, lingering over the natural beauty along the way, from a snowy Montana landscape to a Big Sur sunset. Editor Leslie Jones keeps the pace moving at an easy clip, and the film is incredibly watchable, thanks to the craft on display. While some storylines could have used more care and attention, Carolin and Tatum’s directorial instincts bring a fresh approach to this type of film. It’s a pleasure to say that this is one good “Dog.”

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

'Dog'

Rating: PG-13, for language, thematic elements, drug content and some suggestive material Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes Playing: In general release Feb. 18

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Dog isn’t the movie you think it is. From its poster and tagline (“A filthy animal unfit for human company and a… Dog ”), the joint directorial debut of Channing Tatum and long-term producing partner Reid Carolin appears to be a misadventures-with-a-mutt movie, full of shaggy shenanigans and heart, of the type that has been a mainstay of cinema since movies began. While Dog certainly borrows licks from the sub-genre’s playbook — a wet hound shaking water all over a posh hotel bed; two broken souls who heal each other — it shoots for a more interesting take, encompassing a portrait of a disenfranchised middle America and a more nuanced commentary on the life of post-war vets. The result is a mixed bag, held together by Tatum’s easy-going charisma.

Based on a road trip taken by Tatum to California’s Big Sur with his dog — also named Lulu — shortly before she died from cancer, Dog is essentially Rain Man , with Dustin Hoffman replaced by a pooch. Tatum’s former army ranger Jackson Briggs is itching to get back to battle — he has a ‘Ride Of The Valkyries’ ring tone — but is stuck messing up orders in a sandwich shop, estranged from his wife Niki (Q'orianka Kilcher) and kid, all marinated in dark nights of the soul fuelled by booze and pills. Lulu is a military dog triggered by any sign of combat, who relaxes watching videos of her greatest maulings but also has the comic timing to scupper “the most epic threesome ever”.

Unusually for a film about man’s connection to animals, it’s the man who steals the show.

The episodic 1,500-mile road trip becomes a peg on which to hang a series of vignettes as Briggs attempts to deliver Lulu to the funeral of her former owner. As such, it’s a meandering tale that relies too heavily on Briggs’ monologuing to his canine charge, but Carolin and Brett Rodriguez’s screenplay finds some character quirks (Kevin Nash’s violent conscientious objector, Jane Adams’ cat psychic) and enjoyable set-pieces (Lulu uses her sniffer skills to track down Briggs’ stolen belongings) to keep it engaging. Sometimes this means there are some bumps in tone: a sequence where Briggs pretends to be blind while using Lulu as a guide dog belongs to a different, inferior movie. To Tatum and Carolin’s credit, it is never mawkish, but it is never gut-wrenching either. The screenplay also never tellingly joins the dots tracing Briggs’ emotional growth. It’s easier to chart the dog’s interior journey than the human’s.

Lulu is by turns Adam Driver intense and Joe Pesci volatile, with the occasional touch of sly Owen Wilson laid-back-ness — her refusal to get into a bath is charm personified. But, unusually for a film about man’s connection to animals, it’s the man who steals the show. Tatum’s unique blend of old-school magnetism and modern sensitivities keeps your attention, despite the thinness of the material, the actor as happy swanning around in a floral dressing gown or lip-synching ‘The Lion Sleeps Tonight’ as he is with the macho military stuff. Fronting a film for the first time since 2017’s Logan Lucky , Tatum gives an old dog new tricks.

• ENGLISH HINDI MALAYALAM TAMIL TELUGU KANNADA BENGALI  

Dog English Movie

Dog is a 2022 English movie directed by Channing Tatum and Reid Carolin starring Channing Tatum, Jane Adams, Kevin Nash and Ethan Suplee. The feature film is produced by Channing Tatum, Reid Carolin, Peter Kiernan and Gregory Jacobs and the music composed by Thomas Newman.

Directors: Channing Tatum , Reid Carolin Producers: Channing Tatum , Reid Carolin, Peter Kiernan, Gregory Jacobs Music Director: Thomas Newman Song Lyrics Writer: Anwar Ali Cinematographer: Newton Thomas Sigel Editor: Leslie Jones Screenplay Writer: Reid Carolin

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• What is the release date of 'Dog'? Release date of Channing Tatum and Ethan Suplee starrer 'Dog' is 2022-03-11.
• Who are the actors in 'Dog'? 'Dog' star cast includes Channing Tatum, Ethan Suplee, Emmy Raver Lampman and Bill Burr.
• Who is the director of 'Dog'? 'Dog' is directed by Channing Tatum,Reid Carolin.
• What is Genre of 'Dog'? 'Dog' belongs to 'Drama' genre.
• In Which Languages is 'Dog' releasing? 'Dog' is releasing in English.

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C AST & C REW

M ORE C AST & C REW

• Reid Carolin

Jackson Briggs was an army officer who returned from the army due to an injury. He wants to join the military again. He was given a task to bring Lulu, the military dog, to attend the funeral of its trainer. Like Briggs, Lulu has post-traumatic stress disorder. Was he able to make a connection with Lulu? Was he able to take Lulu to the funeral? The rest of the story deals with it.

Star Performance

Channing Tatum is good with his natural performance. His chemistry with the dog is incredible. However, it should be noted that a single dog does not play the role of Lulu, but three.

Unlike regular pet and road movies, this film carries more emotions. Channing Tatum's directorial debut hyped up the expectations, and the star satisfied the critics and audience with his directorial film in partnership with Reid. Though some sequences are predictable, the way they were filmed is interesting. The screenplay and execution are pretty decent. The cinematography is excellent with wide-angle and aerial shots. The BGM is impressive and travels with the movie's mood.

What's There?

• The script and execution are good
• The performances of the stars are impressive

What's Not There?

• Predictable sequences

The directors had made an excellent pet-road movie with a good star cast and story. The film attracts movie enthusiasts of all age groups. It is definitely watchable once!

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‘dogman’ review: caleb landry jones in luc besson’s wild drama about crime, canines and drag.

The actor stars in the French director’s latest English-language feature, which premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival.

By Jordan Mintzer

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No animals were harmed in the making of Luc Besson ’s new thriller, Dogman , but plenty of people get mauled, bitten, robbed and attacked, and one guy has his junk put into a serious vice grip, by a pack of extremely well-trained canines.  

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Alberto barbera extends contract as venice film festival director through 2026, caleb landry jones to re-team with luc besson on dracula origin story.

Release date: Nov 30, 1999

Venue: Venice Film Festival (Competition) Cast: Caleb Landry Jones, Jojo T. Gibbs, Christopher Denham, Clemens Schick, John Charles Aguilar, Grace Palma Director, screenwriter: Luc Besson

It’s a lot to handle and also a bit silly, but Besson often pulls it off — thanks in no small part to a commanding performance by the chameleon-like Caleb Landry Jones ( Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri ), who manages to be touching and slightly terrifying at the same time. He carries a film that’s too offbeat to achieve the mainstream success of the Taken and Transporter franchises, which helped turn Besson’s EuropaCorp into a major international studio a few decades ago. And yet, as a sort of personal artistic statement — and one where Shakespeare crosses paths with Marlene Dietrich, and deadly hounds with drag queens — Dogman is worth a look.

In 2018, Besson was accused of raping actress Sand Van Roy (who had a role in Valerian ), but was cleared of all charges by a French judge this past June. He was also accused of sexual misconduct by former EuropaCorp employees, as well as by two students from his now-defunct film school outside of Paris, although none of them have formally pressed charges. This may in part explain why the usually busy director has been absent from the scene for the past few years, and why Dogman ’s inclusion in Venice’s main competition — the first for Besson at a major film festival — has caused controversy .

What’s certain is that the movie gives us a different side of the filmmaker compared to what we’ve seen over the past 40 years: one that’s more tender and tragic, even if Dogman contains some of the high-octane violence he’s famous for, and is steeped in an aesthetic permanently lodged somewhere between the 1990s and early aughts. (The film was shot by cinematographer Colin Wandersman, with production design by Hughes Tissandier, who has worked with Besson since The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc .)

Mike trains fight dogs for a living, and when Doug mouths off to him one day at the dinner table, he locks his son up in the kennel with them. Months later, Mike shoots young Douglas point blank with a shotgun, paralyzing him from the waist down. Thus begins the long and painful transformation of Doug into Dogman — a social outcast who holds a Pied Piper-like power over the canines he takes care of, training them to pull off robberies of wealthy homes around the neighborhood, among other things.

Doug’s other metamorphosis involves his encounter with a young actress and drama instructor, Salma (Grace Palma), who casts him in productions of Shakespeare she stages at the boys’ home where he ends up as a teenager. Salma teaches Doug how performance and disguise can help him overcome the abuse he suffered as a child, prompting him to take the stage years later as a drag queen.

Who would have thought Besson would deliver one of the best drag scenes in recent memory? And one in a film where there’s also a scene of a Doberman chomping down on a gang leader’s testicles?

The director gives himself free reign here, finding a way to even include a subplot with a cameo by Barry Lyndon star Marisa Berenson. And while the result is not exactly sophisticated — a label that, in any case, has never applied to Besson’s work — there’s something sincere about the way he depicts Doug’s deep and very Christ-like suffering, including some heavy-handed symbolism toward the end.

This doesn’t mean Besson completely shies away from the kind of off-kilter action he’s known for, especially in a closing set-piece where he literally lets the dogs out big time when Doug’s hideout is ambushed by gangsters. (Cut to shots of the hounds doing lots of things they shouldn’t do, though still being really cute while doing it.) But as an earnest portrait of a character who’s maligned and hated, yet manages to get by thanks to his own unusual talents, Dogman may be the closest thing the director has come to making an autobiography — that is if you get past all the barking, blood and guts.

Full credits

Venue: Venice Film Festival (Competition) Production companies: LBP, EuropaCorp, TF1 Films Production Cast: Caleb Landry Jones, Jojo T. Gibbs, Christopher Denham, Clemens Schick, John Charles Aguilar, Grace Palma, Iris Bry Director, screenwriter: Luc Besson Producer: Virginie Besson-Silla Cinematographer: Colin Wandersman Production designer: Hugues Tissandier Costume designer: Corinne Bruand Editor: Julien Rey Composer: Eric Serra Animal trainers : Mathilde de Cagny, Cécile Denis Sales: Kinology

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Robot Dreams

The adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in New York City during the 1980s. The adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in New York City during the 1980s. The adventures and misfortunes of Dog and Robot in New York City during the 1980s.

• Pablo Berger
• Ivan Labanda
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• 22 wins & 44 nominations total

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Did you know

• Trivia Dog carries a bag in the early portions of this film which has a logo on it. That logo is Naranjito the mascot for the España '82 Football World Cup. A nod to Director Pablo Berger 's homeland.
• Goofs In spring, when the bird comes to build its nest, the towel beneath robot has disappeared.
• Alternate versions The UK release was cut, the distributor obscured rude gestures in order to obtain a PG classification. An uncut 12A classification was available.
• Connections Featured in The Oscars (2024)
• Soundtracks A Bailar El Son Written by Luis Tata Guerra © Spirit Latin (Prodemus). Con autorización de EDICIONES QUIROGA, S. L. Performed by Canelita Medina . Arranged by Victor Mendoza CORPOR4ACION FOCA RECORDS C. A.

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 42 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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Cat & dog, common sense media reviewers.

Slapstick animal heist tale has violence, partial nudity.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Limited positive messages of friendship and workin

Monica works hard to get her cat Diva back and off

Both male and female leads, though the female char

Lots of slapstick violence, such as a man's hair s

A woman takes her top and bra off in an effort to

Fart jokes and potty humor as well as "booty shake

In a brief scene adults drink champagne on a priva

Parents need to know that Cat & Dog ( Chien & Chat ) is a French comedy that follows the misadventures of a talking cat (voiced by Inès Reg) and a dog (voiced by Artus) who inadvertently swallows a stolen ruby, setting off a wild chase involving thieves, a cop, and their human owners. There's…

Positive Messages

Limited positive messages of friendship and working together, but these messages are mostly overshadowed by negative behaviors of greed and selfishness.

Positive Role Models

Monica works hard to get her cat Diva back and offers to help a man she believes to be blind to find his lost dog. Her motives aren't all selfless, though, as she believes their animals are together and can help each other. Poo Poo the puppy and Diva, though often at odds with one another, work together to help keep each other from harm.

Diverse Representations

Both male and female leads, though the female character is portrayed as ditzy and gullible. No racial diversity.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Lots of slapstick violence, such as a man's hair shaved off with a flying razor and jumping and falling from extreme heights. Someone gets slingshotted from a tree. Lots of punching, throat kicking, hitting, strangling, and hair pulling. A man is tasered and breaks and resets his nose. A man tries to light another man on fire. Some violence with animals, including a man kicking a dog, a rifle pointed at animals, and shooting an animal in the paw. A girl references putting her first two cats in a washing machine and wanting to handle Diva similarly. The cat and dog often fight and slap, scratch, and yell at each other. A character catches a bald eagle and off camera it pecks him in the face. People fly off a carousel that's spinning out of control. The main animals face peril throughout the movie and they outrun predators, fall from great heights, and get zapped by electrical lines. An animal falls through thin ice and nearly drowns in freezing water. Most injuries don't last long, but a character is shot in the foot and another nearly dies when he's crushed by an object.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A woman takes her top and bra off in an effort to escape using her underwire. You can see her bare back and some side breasts from the point of view of the security camera where men look on. At one point she turns around and though it's blurry on camera, it's still evident she's still topless. A couple kiss.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Fart jokes and potty humor as well as "booty shake," "smell my butt," and "Jesus, help" from an exasperated nun.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

In a brief scene adults drink champagne on a private jet.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Cat & Dog ( Chien & Chat ) is a French comedy that follows the misadventures of a talking cat (voiced by Inès Reg) and a dog (voiced by Artus) who inadvertently swallows a stolen ruby, setting off a wild chase involving thieves, a cop, and their human owners. There's lots of slapstick violence, including falls from extreme heights, punching, kicking, strangling, and tasering, as well as violence involving animals. A girl references putting her first two cats in a washing machine. The main animals face peril throughout the movie; they outrun predators and get zapped by electrical lines. An animal falls through thin ice and nearly drowns in freezing water. Most injuries don't last long, but a character is shot in the foot, and another nearly dies when he's crushed by an object. Expect kissing and partial nudity (a glimpse of a topless woman), plus potty humor like "booty shake," "smell my butt," and language like "Jesus, help" from an exasperated nun. Adults drink champagne on a private jet. While the film touches on themes of friendship and teamwork, negative behavior like greed and selfishness overshadows these messages. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

• Parents say (4)
• Kids say (1)

Based on 4 parent reviews

Entertaining and comedic violence has a couple of sexual references, a mic of childish and light mature humour making it enjoyable for all

What's the story.

In CAT & DOG, a pampered cat named Diva (voiced by Inès Reg) and a homeless dog named Poo Poo (voiced by Artus) find themselves separated from their owners at an airport after the dog accidentally swallows a valuable ruby sought after by thieves. As the two animals embark on a dangerous journey to find their way back to their owners, they must also avoid the ruthless pursuit of thieves after the ruby while navigating through a world of natural predators. Along the way, the cat and dog form an unlikely bond and discover the true value of friendship, all while their owners Monica (Reem Kherici) and Jack (Franck Dubosc) search desperately for their precious pets.

Is It Any Good?

This animal tale tries to appeal to audiences with its talking animal characters and adventurous storyline, but falls short in execution. The CGI animation is over the top, bordering on distracting, and the overall visual quality detracts from the viewing experience. While the film may seem geared toward kids, the content is surprisingly violent and contains many questionable moments. From slapstick violence to partial nudity, the movie veers into territory that may not sit well with parents seeking wholesome entertainment for their children. On top of that, the film's cheesy dialogue and exaggerated plot might not entertain adult viewers. Ultimately, Cat & Dog is chaotic and struggles to find its footing.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the portrayal of violence in the film. How did it impact your viewing experience? Were there any scenes that you found particularly disturbing? Why?

What's the appeal of talking animal movies? Why do you think they remain so popular?

How did the characters demonstrate friendship and teamwork ? Can you give examples?

Did you find the movie funny? Entertaining? Why or why not?

Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : March 15, 2024
• Director : Reem Kherici
• Inclusion Information : Female directors
• Studios : Netflix , Mandarin Films , Gaumont
• Genre : Comedy
• Topics : Adventures , Cats, Dogs, and Mice
• Run time : 86 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : March 21, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

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Dog movies for kids, best animal movies for kids, related topics.

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The Power of the Dog

Where to watch.

Watch The Power of the Dog with a subscription on Netflix.

What to Know

Brought to life by a stellar ensemble led by Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog reaffirms writer-director Jane Campion as one of her generation's finest filmmakers.

If you're ready to saddle up for a slow ride, The Power of the Dog 's great acting and interesting ideas make the journey worthwhile.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Jane Campion

Benedict Cumberbatch

Phil Burbank

Kirsten Dunst

Jesse Plemons

George Burbank

Kodi Smit-McPhee

Thomasin McKenzie

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Everything Puppies’ on Hallmark, A Romance That Combines Love, Puppies, And Corporate Villainy Into One Weirdly Pleasing Movie

• Hallmark Channel

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Family Practice Mysteries: Coming Home’ on Hallmark Mystery, A Solid Murder Procedural That’s Darker Than Most Hallmark Fare

Stream it or skip it: ‘a whitewater romance’ on the hallmark channel, a fish-out-of-rapids romance about colleagues who fall in love on a rafting trip, stream it or skip it: ‘a lifelong love’ on hallmark, starring andrea brooks as a poet forced to write an overly complicated book about love.

From the title alone, Everything Puppies on the Hallmark Channel is intriguing enough. Like, as if Hallmark Movies couldn’t be anymore comforting and soothing, we get to throw a dozen puppies in to boot? It’s not a terrible formula. And while there are lots of cute pups to go around, the real story of the film is one woman’s desire to sell her dog treats. Along the way, there’s romance, jealousy, and corporate sabotage, but in the end, goodness and puppies win the day.

EVERYTHING PUPPIES : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: Puppies! All the cute puppies, so many of them, just frolicking around a field being adorable.

The Gist: Scarlett Townsend (Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes) is a pet Renaissance woman. I mean, she’s literally referred to in the film as the Leonardo Da Vinci of the pet world, because she designs dog parks, invents pet toys, helps her dad run a dog breeding business – which, I mean, yeah, it’s essentially a puppy mill but we need to look past that for the sake of the movie – and she has developed the recipe for a dog treat that she is desperate to sell in pet stores.

Scarlett’s best friend and partner Gina (Kathryn Davis) is helping her market her dog treats, called Pup’s Palate, to pet stores, and after being routinely rejected by almost all of them, one pet store called Paws & Wellness decides to take a chance on the new brand. To be more specific, the manager of Paws & Wellness, Alex (Stephen Huszar) takes a chance on the brand after he gives a sample of the treats to his own dog, who gobbles it up.

Alex and Scarlett hit it off immediately, thanks to their love of pets and a mutual passion for weird, exciting hobbies. (He rock climbs, which is not so weird. She once rode a unicycle across Illinois, which is more weird.) Alex is really dedicated to that elusive concept known as the work-life balance, while Scarlett loves working and rarely stops, even when she’s out with him. That’s the first obstacle to their relationship.

The second obstacle is Michelle (Victoria Maria), Alex’s ex who also happens to be the regional manager of Paws & Wellness’s corporate office. (She also really doesn’t want to be his ex, insisting on dates against Alex’s will.) At first, it seems like Michelle might be a romantic competitor for Alex’s affection, but she’s actually just a corporate yes-woman, and when Pups Palate’s biggest competitor, Pup Chuck (rhymes with upchuck) threatens legal action if Paws & Wellness stocks Pups Palate on the shelves, she blocks Scarlett’s product from being sold at her store.

Scarlett’s ethos of success at all costs kicks in and she does whatever she can to get Pups Palate noticed, going up against Michelle and the comically villainous head of sales at Pup Chuck, Paul Frasca (Darrin Baker), a man whose middle name is BOTTOM LINE and who will sabotage and skip on quality if it means profits. Ultimately, because she’s a go-getter with a heart of gold, Scarlett succeeds in getting her product in stores, while winning over Alex in the end.

What Movies Will It Remind You Of? The movie is essentially what happens if the Puppy Bowl combined with a corporate-brand biopic like Air or Flamin’ Hot (where the brand is entirely fictional) by way of Hallmark and it’s feel-good comfort vibes.

Our Take: My kids had a beloved board book when they were toddlers called Little Puppy that’s just a bunch of drawings of very cute puppies scampering around with their mama dog and doing adorable stuff, and it feels like Everything Puppies is what happened if a screenwriter was like, “I know, I’ll write a movie about these dogs’ owners!”

Everything Puppies is a quintessential Hallmark movie in that it packs in all the good-hearted optimism and non-threatening romantic drama we’re used to — but then it throws in an unexpected twist in the form of a cartoonishly mean corporate rival who provides actual laughs thanks to his insatiable greed that threatens to disrupt everyone’s happy ending. While it is by no means a great film, I admit that I was waiting anxiously for the payoff at the end, which included not just Scarlett’s triumphant success, but also the arrival of a new litter of puppies born at Scarlett’s dad’s puppy breeding business. If I had to make one complaint about the film, it’s that we actually don’t see enough puppies.

Parting Shot : Six months later…Scarlett and her fiance Alex pack up his truck to head out on a camping trip. Because, you know, work-life balance. As they sit by the fire, they toast to one another as their dogs, who are perched inside a tent of their own, look on.

Performance Worth Watching: Darrin Baker stars as Paul Frasca, the shrewd, lawsuit-threatening head of sales at Pup Chuck. He has but a few scenes and yet he really makes the most of them.

Memorable Dialogue: “We’ve gotta ask ourselves, what’s more important, a healthy profit line or a healthy puppy?” the CEO of Paws & Wellness says after hearing the competing pitches from Pups Palate and Pup Chuck who both wand shelf space in his store. It is so corny, and I love it.

Our Call: STREAM IT! SO much of this movie is ridiculous, almost a parody of all the genres, from the predictable corporate villain to the predictable romantic obstacles, and yet it’s still pretty charming. That’s mostly due to the fact that this is a story of David triumphing over Goliath more than it’s a romance, and even in a fictional movie, it’s a thrill to see the little guy win. But also… PUPPIES!

Liz Kocan is a pop culture writer living in Massachusetts. Her biggest claim to fame is the time she won on the game show Chain Reaction .

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'If' movie review: Ryan Reynolds' imaginary friend fantasy might go over your kids' heads

Even with likable youngsters, a vast array of cartoonish characters, various pratfalls and shenanigans, and Ryan Reynolds in non- Deadpool mode, the family comedy “IF” isn’t really a "kids movie" – at least not in a conventional sense.

There’s a refreshing whiff of whimsy and playful originality to writer/director John Krasinski’s bighearted fantasy (★★½ out of four; rated PG; in theaters Friday), which centers on a young girl who discovers a secret world of imaginary friends (aka IFs). What it can’t find is the common thread of universal appeal. Yeah, children are geared to like any movie with a cheery unicorn, superhero dog, flaming marshmallow with melting eye and assorted furry monsters. But “IF” features heady themes of parental loss and reconnecting with one’s youth, plus boasts a showstopping dance set to Tina Turner , and that all leans fairly adult. Mash those together and the result is akin to a live-action Pixar movie without the nuanced execution.

Twelve-year-old Bea (Cailey Fleming) doesn’t really think of herself as a kid anymore. Her mom died of a terminal illness, and now her dad (Krasinski) is going into the hospital for surgery to fix his “broken heart,” so she’s staying with her grandma (Fiona Shaw) in New York City.

When poking around her new environment, Bea learns she has the ability to see imaginary friends. And she’s not the only one: Bea meets charmingly crusty upstairs neighbor Cal (Reynolds) as well as his IF pals, like spritely Blossom (voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and overly sensitive purple furry monster named Blue (Steve Carell). They run a sort of matchmaking agency to connect forgotten IFs whose kids have outgrown them with new children in need of their companionship, and Bea volunteers to help out.

'Welcome to Wrexham': Ryan Reynolds talks triumph, joy and loss of new season

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Bea is introduced to an IF retirement community located under a Coney Island carousel with a bevy of oddball personalities in the very kid-friendly middle section of the movie. “IF” low-key has the most starry supporting cast of any movie this summer because of all the A-listers voicing imaginary friends, an impressive list that includes Emily Blunt and Sam Rockwell as the aforementioned unicorn and superdog, Matt Damon as a helpful sunflower, George Clooney as a spaceman, Amy Schumer as a gummy bear and Bradley Cooper as an ice cube in a glass. (It's no talking raccoon, but it works.)

One of the movie's most poignant roles is a wise bear played by Louis Gossett Jr. in one of his final roles. Rather than just being a cameo, he’s nicely central to a key emotional scene.

While the best family flicks win over kids of all ages, “IF” is a film for grown-ups in PG dressing. The movie is amusing but safe in its humor, the overt earnestness overshadows some great bits of subversive silliness, and the thoughtful larger narrative, which reveals itself by the end to be much more than a story about a girl befriending a bunch of make-believe misfits, will go over some little ones’ heads. Tweens and teens, though, will likely engage with or feel seen by Bea’s character arc, struggling to move into a new phase of life while being tied to her younger years – not to mention worrying about her dad, who tries to make light of his medical situation for Bea.

Reynolds does his part enchanting all ages in this tale of two movies: He’s always got that irascible “fun uncle” vibe for kids, and he strikes a fun chemistry opposite Fleming that belies the serious stuff “IF” digs into frequently. But unless your child is into old movies, they probably won’t get why “Harvey” is playing in the background in a scene. And when “IF” reaches its cathartic finale, some kiddos might be wondering why their parents are sniffling and tearing up – if they're still paying attention and not off playing with their own imaginary friend by then.

‘Rumours’ Review: Cate Blanchett Gets Lost in Heavy Fog and Hot Air in a Laugh-Out-Loud Political Satire

Canadian trio Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson take aim at the Group of Seven in this wicked takedown of global leaders who are all words and no action — and not even smart words at that.

By Guy Lodge

Film Critic

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The film’s marquee attraction, of course, is Cate Blanchett , impishly funny as the summit’s po-faced hostess Hilda Ortmann: a German chancellor with roughly the same hairdo and taste in tailored blazers as Angela Merkel, but little of the gravitas. It’s Germany’s turn to welcome the leaders of the six other G7 democracies — the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan and, repeatedly mentioned with self-mocking incredulity, Canada — for a weekend of wining, dining and superficial political discussion at a luxuriously sequestered country estate where they won’t even have to lay eyes on any of the common people whose best interests they’re allegedly representing. A gazebo has been specially built for the occasion. What can go wrong?

For the purposes of a rather distasteful photo op, the German contingent has exhumed an Iron Age corpse (eerily preserved in fleshy, moist condition) from the rolling grounds, but this one archaeological gesture appears to have triggered an uprising of fluid-seeping ancient bodies, chasing the politicians into the surrounding forest when their servants mysteriously vanish. Within minutes, a low-stakes gathering of the world’s most protected people becomes a perilous survival quest as a thickevening fog encloses them, and the film’s visual language turns to that of baleful horror. Stefan Ciupek’s cinematography succumbs to exaggerated bursts of flame and haze, while the tense zitherings of Kristian Eidnes Andersen’s melodramatic score are wittily disproportionate to our emotional investment in proceedings.

Not that the shadow of death stops this less-than-magnificent seven from fretting over more trivial matters. Canada’s buff, manbun-sporting prime minister Maxime Laplace (Roy Dupuis) edges toward a nervous breakdown over a numbingly dull “carried interest scandal” at home, not to mention an extinguished romantic liaison with his U.K. counterpart Cardosa Dewindt (Nikki Amuka-Bird), who keeps insisting they can complete their statement while they claw their way out of the woods. French president Sylvain Broulez (Denis Ménochet) is more preoccupied with writing a “psychogeography of graveyards and burial customs,” Italy’s gormless premier Antonio Lamorte (a pricelessly addled Rolando Ravello) forgot to bring his phone, while venerable POTUS Edison Wolcott (Charles Dance) can’t seem to stay awake — or explain why he speaks with a cut-glass English accent.

Wolcott’s unaccountable Britishness is one of numerous blithely absurd running jokes that Evan Johnson ‘s hyper-quotable script (from a story by all three directors) effortlessly maintains while building to a bigger satirical picture. The massed foibles and outright idiocies of the seven principals — all sharp individual comic creations, but collectively a devastating hot-air hydra of enfeebled contemporary democracy — add up to a frustrated protest against our elected elite fiddling while Rome (or the planet, rather) burns, offering mealy-mouthed sentiments that gesture toward coordinated action without ever getting there.

Though you can see flickers of real-world caricature in the ensemble (a bit of Joe Biden here, a dash of Emmanuel Macron there), that’s not exactly the point of the exercise. Our interchangeably ineffectual leaders could be wiped out overnight, “Rumours” points out, as our laughter turns to a groaning sigh — it’s broken global power structures that remain immovable.

Reviewed at Cannes Film Festival (Out of Competition), May 18, 2024. Running time: 109 MIN.

• Production: (Canada-Germany) A Bleecker Street Media, Elevation Pictures, Plaion Pictures presentation of a Buffalo Gal Pictures, Thin Stuff Prods., Walking Down Broadway, Maze Pictures production in association with Square Peg, Laokoon Filmgroup, Ludascripts, Aloe Entertainment. (World sales: Protagonist Pictures, London.) Producers: Liz Jarvis, Philipp Kreuzer, Lars Knudsen, Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson. Executive producers: Ari Aster, Cate Blanchett, Phyllis Laing, Jorg Schulze, Joe Neurauter, Devan Towers, Tyler Campellone, Lina Flint, Mary Aloe, Gillian Hormel, Andrew Karpen, Kent Sanderson, Adrian Love, Michael O’Leary, Stefan Kapelari, Moritz Peters, Blair Ward, Anders Erdén, Lauren Case, Eric Harbert, Michael Werry, George Heuser, Jacob Phillips, Stephen Griffiths, Christopher Payne, Dave Bishop, George Hamilton, James Pugh, Janina Vilsmaier, Fred Benenson, Morwin Schmookler, George Rush. Co-producer: Judit Stalter, Simon Ofenloch.
• Crew: Directors: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson. Screenplay: Evan Johnson, from a story by Evan Johnson, Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson. Camera: Stefan Ciupek. Editors: John Gurdubeke, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson. Music: Kristian Eidnes Andersen.
• With: Cate Blanchett, Roy Dupuis, Denis Ménochet, Charles Dance, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rolando Ravello, Takehiro Hira, Alicia Vikander, Zlatko Buric. (English dialogue)

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Our 20 favorite films about dogs

Posted: March 1, 2024 | Last updated: March 1, 2024

We thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of our favorite pictures featuring pooches. Doesn't matter if you are a Lady or a Tramp, this list has a furry friend for every dog lover. 

"A Dog’s Life" (1918)

Sorry, you won’t find the fan-favorite but critically panned 2017 drama “A Dog’s Purpose” on this list. It does, however, include “A Dog’s Life,” which was made almost 100 years earlier. After all, we adore almost anything starring Charlie Chaplin, and it definitely helps that the Tramp’s co-star is an adorable pooch named Scraps. Written, directed and produced by Chaplin, “A Dog’s Life” has a run time of just 33 minutes, so give it a watch when you’re limited on time and looking for a silent film that will make you laugh out loud.

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"Lassie Come Home" (1943)

Lassie has saved more people from fires, fast-moving rivers and other dangerous predicaments than we can count over the last seven or eight decades, but it all started with 1943’s wildly successful “Lassie Come Home.” The MGM film starred Roddy McDowall, Donald Crisp, Elsa Lanchester, Elizabeth Taylor and a dog named Pal as Lassie. Pal was actually a male collie, but he was nevertheless cast as Lassie because sexism was alive and well back in the ‘40s. (Just kidding; the decision reportedly came about because female collies tend to shed more in the summer months, when outdoor filming usually took place.)

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"Lady and the Tramp" (1955)

Is it possible for two people to share a plate of spaghetti without someone referencing the 1955 Disney animated film “Lady and the Tramp”? We submit that no, it is not possible, and we are just fine with that. After all, “Lady and the Tramp” is a classic film, and that scene has since become iconic. “Lady and the Tramp” also has a timeless quality, making most fans forget the film is more than 60 years old.

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"Old Yeller" (1957)

Based on the 1956 children's novel of the same name by Fred Gipson, “Old Yeller” is a sweet story of a boy and the dog he loves, and how fiercely loyal canines can truly be. Until they get rabies, that is. The finale of the 1957 film is a tough pill to swallow, but like young Travis in the film, it’s a lesson that needs to be learned as part of becoming an adult. 

As a side note, growing up we had a yellow-haired guinea pig the previous owners named Yeller, which, in retrospect, was probably a short-sighted decision, because he too had to be put down. RIP, both Yellers.

"The Shaggy Dog" (1959)

“The Shaggy Dog” (1959) yielded numerous sequels and remakes between 1979 and 2006, but the best installment is still the first. Speaking of firsts, “The Shaggy Dog” was actually Walt Disney’s first foray into live-action films, and it paid off in the amount of $12.3 million — which is pretty impressive for a movie that only took $1 million to make. In “The Shaggy Dog,” Fred MacMurray and Jean Hagen play Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, whose son, Wilby (Tommy Kirk), is transformed into an English Sheepdog thanks to a cursed piece of jewelry.

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"One Hundred and One Dalmatians" (1961)

It may seem like fun and games in the film, but having 101 dogs would actually be a nightmare, so kudos and best of luck to Roger and Anita Radcliffe, who take in the mutts after they (the dogs, not the humans) defeat Cruella De Vil at the end of “One Hundred and One Dalmatians.” A plethora of well-known actors were brought in to provide the voices in this 1961 animated Disney film, but the most famous was probably Rod Taylor, who voiced the dog Pongo.

"Benji" (1974)

People loved dog movies in the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s, and Joe Camp banked on the fact that they still did in 1974 when he wrote, produced and directed “Benji.” Given the fact that Camp couldn't secure a studio to distribute the film and had to result to opening his own, the payoff was likely even bigger than he could imagine, as the story of a stray dog who finally finds a loving home earned an Academy Award nomination (for Best Original Song), critical acclaim and turned a $500,000 budget into a $44.5 million profit at the box office. For the love of Benji, that’s a lot of doggie dough!

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"The Fox and the Hound" (1981)

1981’s “The Fox and the Hound” is about an unlikely friendship between two very different personalities. It’s also about a fox and a hound, voiced by Mickey Rooney and Kurt Russell, respectively. This thoughtful animated Disney film might not be atop most Disney fans’ lists of their favorite movies from the studio, but the classic cartoon still earns a spot on this list.

"Cujo" (1983)

Not all the dogs in this list need to be well-behaved, and Cujo is, without a doubt, our favorite bad dog. Based on the 1981 Stephen King horror novel of the same name, “Cujo” has been cited as one of the author’s favorite adaptations of his work , along with "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Stand By Me." 

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"Turner & Hooch" (1989)

When it came time to pitch “Turner & Hooch,” the creators said, “So it’s a buddy-cop comedy, except one of the partners is a dog.” The studio said no, but then the creators asked, “What if the human cop is Tom Hanks?” And the studio instantly agreed to a deal. OK, that’s probably not what actually happened, but it seems like the only way the 1989 comedy could have come about. Predictably, critics weren’t especially kind to “Turner & Hooch,” but fans (us included) lapped it up to the tune of $71 million.

"White Fang" (1991)

One of numerous film adaptations of the 1906 Jack London adventure novel of the same name, “White Fang” (1991) stars a young Ethan Hawke as Jack Conroy and Jed as the eponymous wolfdog. Jed isn’t a one-trick movie mutt, as he actually made his debut in John Carpenter’s famous fright fest “The Thing” in 1981 and also appeared in 1985's "The Journey of Natty Gann." “White Fang” received generally positive reviews upon its release, earned a respectable $34 million in theaters and inspired a 1994 sequel, “White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf.” We’d say the sequel was forgettable, but sadly, we still remember seeing it as kids some 24 years ago.

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"Beethoven" (1992)

If you grew up in the ‘90s and today see a St. Bernard out and about, there’s gotta be a little part of you that thinks, “It’s Beethoven!” No? Maybe it’s just us. After all, 1992’s “Beethoven” was a beloved film among kids in its time, and adults were drawn in by the inclusion of Charles Grodin, Bonnie Hunt, Stanley Tucci and Oliver Platt (among others). Also, for the record, the often-cynical Roger Ebert actually defied most of his fellow critics and awarded the family comedy two-and-a-half out of four stars.

"Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" (1993)

Many adults have fond memories of watching “Homeward Bound” as kids (or at least watching “Homeward Bound” with  their kids) but few remember how sad some of the scenes were. When we thought Sassy the cat (voice of Sally Field) had gone over a waterfall to her watery death, it was difficult to continue watching. And near the end, when we were led to believe that Shadow the golden retriever (Don Ameche) wouldn’t make it home either? We don’t know how we ever made it to the storybook ending, which even saw the dog narrator, Chance (voice of Michael J. Fox), happy and content with his human and furry family.

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"Eight Below" (2006)

Based on the 1983 film “Antarctica” (which is based on a true story), the Disney film “Eight Below” might seem like it will be a lighthearted story of friendship between a human and his sled dogs, but it’s actually a harrowing tale of survival in the coldest part of the planet. Paul Walker, Bruce Greenwood, Moon Bloodgood and Jason Biggs anchor the cast, but they’re not the only famous faces in the film. Four of the canine actors (who were praised for their performances) previously starred in another Disney movie: 2002’s “Snow Dogs.”

"Bolt" (2008)

Disney’s “Bolt” is an animated movie about a dog named Bolt (John Travolta), a cat named Mittens (Susie Essman) and a hamster named Rhino (Mark Walton), all of whom embark on a cross-country trip to reunite Bolt with his owner, Penny (Miley Cyrus). “Bolt” raked in $310 million and earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Animated Feature, but lost both to “WALL-E.” 

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"Best in Show" (2000)

The humans — specifically Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Michael McKean, John Michael Higgins, Parker Posey, Christopher Guest and a few other notable names — are the real focus of “Best in Show,” but the entire 90-minute mockumentary is about dog show competitions, so we felt it was OK to include it. Not only do we personally find “Best in Show” endlessly entertaining, but the Christopher Guest comedy also holds a powerful 94 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes and won numerous awards.

"Scooby-Doo" (2002)

To be honest, seeing a computer-generated Scooby-Doo in a live-action film kind of weirded us out at first, but once we settled in, 2002’s “Scooby-Doo” ended up being a well-executed movie. Sure, it was childish, absurd and critics tore it apart, but audiences shouldn’t expect anything less (or more) considering the source material. On the plus side, in addition to sneaking some subtle stoner humor into this kid-centric comedy, “Scooby-Doo” was perfectly cast, with Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Linda Cardellini as Velma and Matthew Lillard as Shaggy. 

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"Frankenweenie" (2012)

Most people deem “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” (1985) as Tim Burton’s directorial debut, but the year prior he actually helmed a 30-minute short film called “Frankenweenie.” Despite big names like Shelley Duvall, Daniel Stern and Sofia Coppola, Disney almost immediately disowned the film as being too dark to qualify as kid-friendly , which is an odd opinion considering how prevalent the theme of death is in most of the studio's films. Once Burton became an iconic director, he remade the live-action horror comedy as a stop-motion-animated film and had much more success. Presented in black and white and featuring the voices of Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, Martin Landau and Winona Ryder, 2012’s “Frankenweenie” earned near-universal praise and owns an 87 percent freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

"White God" (2014)

While each of these films is unique in their own way, “White Dog” is truly unlike any other. The 2014 Hungarian drama at first seems to be about a girl, her dad and the dog he doesn’t want. Sound like a touching family film? Think again. When the dad abandons the dog (named Hagen), the story takes a dark turn, as Hagen soon becomes a killer upon being trained to compete in a dog-fighting ring. More than 200 dogs were used in “White Dog,” most of whom were homeless at the time. This powerful, highly acclaimed film earned numerous accolades, including the Prize Un Certain Regard at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, and it also earned homes for 98-percent of the four-legged actors, according to writer, director and animal trainer Kornél Mundruczó.

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"Isle of Dogs" (2018)

Wes Anderson has yet to direct a poorly received feature film, and the 2018 stop-motion-animated “Isle of Dogs” is no exception. Featuring the voices of all-stars Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel, Liev Schreiber, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton, “Isle of Dogs” is about a young boy who journeys to a far-away island to find his dog after the species is quarantined because of an outbreak of canine influenza. Praised for both its cast and beautiful animation, “Isle of Dogs” was given positive reviews overall by critics and won several awards at various film festivals.

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Messi the dog comes to Cannes for an encore

The first star to arrive on the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival came on four legs. Messi, the dog from the film “Anatomy of a Fall,” walked up and down the Cannes carpet on Tuesday ahead of the opening ceremony. Justine Triet’s murder mystery “Anatomy of a Fall” last year premiered in Cannes where it went on to win the festival’s top award, the Palme d’Or. Messi — Snoop in the film — won the Palm Dog, a journalist-created prize for the festival’s top dog. (May 14)

Messi the dog poses for photographers upon arrival at the awards ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘The Second Act’ during the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo by Andreea Alexandru/Invision/AP)

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Messi the dog poses for photographers upon arrival at the awards ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘The Second Act’ during the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo by Daniel Cole/Invision/AP)

CANNES, France (AP) — The first star to arrive on the red carpet at the 77th Cannes Film Festival came on four legs.

Messi, the dog from the film “Anatomy of a Fall,” walked up and down the Cannes carpet on Tuesday ahead of the opening ceremony. Lines of tuxedo-clad photographers called out “Messi! Messi” while the border collie strolled past and climbed the stairs to the Palais des Festivals. There, he sat and held his front paws up in the air, like a movie star waving to the crowd.

For some 20 minutes, Messi had Cannes’ complete attention while frolicking on the carpet. His bark echoed down the Croisette. The red carpet went unsoiled.

For Messi, it was a kind of return to the scene of the crime. Justine Triet’s murder mystery “Anatomy of a Fall” last year premiered in Cannes where it went on to win the festival’s top award, the Palme d’Or. Messi — Snoop in the film — won the Palm Dog, a journalist-created prize for the festival’s top dog.

The 2024 Cannes Film Festival is underway. Here’s what to know:

• Festival diaries: AP Film Writer Jake Coyle is in Cannes, France, reporting on the festival . Follow along with his behind-the-scenes diaries .
• How it all works: We broke down the festival’s unique landscape , lineup , prizes and what’s up with those long standing ovations.
• What to expect: #MeToo upheaval in France , potential strikes and protests, George Miller’s “Furiosa” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “ Megalopolis, ” all have Cannes buzzing.
• The Palm Dog: Messi is in attendance . But who will win the coveted (but unofficial) Palm Dog?
• Photos: See red carpet highlights from week one.

And as “Anatomy of a Fall,” in which the dog’s perspective holds certain keys to the whodunit, continued through awards season, Messi emerged as Hollywood’s favorite new pooch and a particularly cuddly Oscar campaign prop. He attended both the academy luncheon of nominees and the Oscar ceremony . “Anatomy of a Fall” won best original screenplay.

Messi isn’t in Cannes just for an encore bow/bone. The festival is shooting daily one-minute videos of Messi for French television that will be collected for a TikTok video. On Tuesday, he carried a camera stick in his teeth.