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 My Dog Skip
Rated: Rated PGfor some violent content and mild language.
Runtime: 95 mins.
Director: Jay Russell
Writer: Willie Morris, Gail Gilchriest
Tagline: Every family needs an optimist.
Cast: Frankie Muniz, Diane Lane, Luke Wilson, Kevin Bacon....complete cast
Genre: Drama/Family
Most memorable quote: "In my life I find that memories of the spirit linger and sweeten long after memories of the brain have faded"
by Terese Henry
Remember the trailer with the precocious Jack Russell terrier perched on and drinking out of a toilet or driving a 1940s sedan? Sure, you do. You probably never saw the movie because you thought it was just a cheesy kids' movie. Oh, what a serious blunder. My Dog Skip is a wonderful movie from the book of the same name, a memoir of the early life of Willie Morris, a Yazoo, Mississippi native who grows up to leave his home state to attend the University of Texas and later Cambridge University as a Rhodes Scholar, serve the youngest editor at Harper's magazine, but finally returns to teach literature at Ole Miss. Morris lovingly describes how his first pet influences his life, his relationships with his family, friends and community, and his maturation from a scrawny mama's boy to a well-adjusted young man.
You may already know that I love dogs and kids, which probably influenced my choice as one of my favorite movies. However, there are several more reasons why it is close to my heart. Like Stand by Me and To Kill a Mockingbird just to name a few, I adore the use of voice-over narration to reconcile the exuberance of youth with the perspective of adulthood, to both romanticize and interpret one's early years. Also, as in most Southern literature, a favorite genre of mine, a strong sense of place hangs heavily over the movie like an impending thunderstorm, and makes one yearn to find and move to Canton, the beautiful, Mississippi hamlet in which the movie was filmed. Morris calls Mississippi the Ireland of America, citing "the beautiful landscape, the poetic writing, a sense of loss and the proclivity of using language and telling stories."
The most important factor of why I love this movie and recommend it to others is the happy ending. I promise all of you dog lovers out there that Skip lives a long and healthy life and does not die tragically. This bit of information only ruins the movie a little, but it is critical for those of us who were racked with sobs after suffering through the end of such deceptively sad dog movies like Turner and Hooch. We all know that if there's a dog on the cover of the video, it will most likely not make it to the end of the movie. Not so in My Dog Skip.
Now, does happy mean sappy? Heck, no! Set during World War II, the film addresses very serious issues such as death, war, violence, racism, family strife, alcoholism, cruelty, first love, and loss. The cast is stellar and the acting is uncannily realistic. Frankie Muniz, now starring in tv's "Malcolm in the Middle," is the perfect combination of adorable and painfully nerdy as the young Willie, but he was definitely not just chosen for his looks. He is a fantastic actor, and I still see him as Willie in all of his other roles. The ubiquitous Kevin Bacon is startlingly good as Willie's emotionally and physically crippled father who is initially against the idea of his son getting a dog. He also provides the voice over as the adult Willie narrating the story. Diane Lane, whom I remember best as a teen actress herself, is great as the unexpectedly assertive and loving mother who pushes the issue of pet ownership and of course wins. Luke Wilson plays the town's star athlete and Willie's only friend who later returns from the war a broken man. All of these characters seem like real people, flawed and complex, as the actors who play them recede into the background.
As a Texan, I also appreciate the actors' realistic accents, which show a dedication to getting it right in respect to the time and place, as do the beautiful cinematography of the lush, green landscape and the retro fashions and technology. The citizens of Canton wholeheartedly embraced the film's production, played extras and provided many period antiques, clothes and automobiles. Production notes on the official website also explain that the film was shot in tungsten light to lend a yellowed period feel instead of a surreal feeling of memory.
Can "a boy and his dog" story really translate into enough material for a quality full-length feature? Yes, because Skip helps Willie through the typical tribulations of any male's youth: making friends, defeating bullies, excelling at sports, and impressing girls and classmates, all of which are made more difficult because Willie is a sensitive, skinny, jug-eared, clumsy, bookish lad. Along the way, however, Willie also faces the very adult problems of bootleggers, segregation, change, and disappointment.
Why is it that a boy's childhood is just as appealing to women as it is to men, but it never works the other way around? Oh well, that's an argument for another time and place. This movie is so good-hearted it is great for all audiences, including older children and in-laws but probably won't result in anyone getting lucky except maybe that forlorn pound puppy you are prompted to bring home after seeing this movie. After showing this movie to my classes again and again, I continue to be struck at the quality of the script, the production, and the actors, but the Seven factor is low because you'll only remember the funny one liners and wise aphorisms delivered in a lilting Southern drawl. I won't lie to you, I cried at several points in this movie, so the Of Mice and Men factor sort of rears its ugly head, but again I mention the happy ending and heartwarming afterglow. The wrap up factor is also at a medium strength, but there are no big surprises here, especially after reading this review. However, this movie, an episodic character study, doesn't need or want a big flashy finish. My Dog Skip succeeds as simple film about a complex subject: life, and just like life, it's at times funny, poignant, sad, and inspiring, but overall, it is supremely satisfying.
Terese Henry
Screen formats: Pan-and-scan and Widescreen
Subtitles: English, French
Sound: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Other Features: Audio commentary , deleted scenes , cast and crew information , trailer(s)
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Complete Cast:
| Frank Muniz......... |
Willie Morris |
| Diane Lane.......... |
Ellen Morris |
| Luke Wilson.......... |
Dink Jenkins |
| Kevin Bacon.......... |
Jack Morris |
| John M. Sullivan.......... |
Hunter #1 |
| Mark Beech.......... |
Army Buddy |
| Susan Carol Davis.......... |
Mrs. Jenkins |
| David Pickens....... |
Mr. Jenkins |
| Bradley Coryell.......... |
Big Boy Wilkinson |
| Daylan Honeycutt.......... |
Henjie Henick |
| Codey Linley......... |
Spit McGee |
| Polly Craig........ |
Grandmother Mamie |
| John Stiritz.......... |
Grandfather Percy |
| Lucile Doan Ewing.......... |
Aunt Maggie |
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