Year of the Dog

Theatrical Release Date: 2007 04 13 (USA - Limited) / 2007 05 04 (USA)

UPC: 097363479642

Studio: Paramount

MPAA Rating: PG13   Contains:[Adult Situations, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Adult Humor]

Summary: An unremarkable administrative assistant finds her life going to the dogs both literally and figuratively in actor/screenwriter-turned-director Mike White's dark comedy drama. An inexplicably cheerful office worker whose somewhat sad excuse for a life seems to revolve around her pet beagle Pencil, Peggy (Molly Shannon) seems to relate better to her four-legged friend than she does to most humans. Most of her person-to-person interaction revolves around doting on other people's children and treating her co-workers to daily donuts, and Peggy just doesn't find much solace in the company of her know-it-all sister-in-law Bret (Laura Dern) or her anxiety-prone boss Robin (Josh Pais). When Peggy's dog Pencil is taken before his time, the devastated dog-lover is wracked with guilt. Now desperate to fill the gaping void that has suddenly opened in her life, Peggy agrees to a date with her gun-nut neighbor Al (John C. Reilly) that ends in disaster when she begins to suspect that the boorish brute may have in fact poisoned her ill-fated pooch. Later, after adopting every dog at the local pound and transforming herself into an overzealous animal-rights activist, the increasingly unhinged Peggy reaches out to asexual activist Newt (Peter Sarsgaard) in a last-grasp attempt at forming a human connection that is met with casual indifference. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Comedy Drama

Awards: Best Screenplay – Independent Spirit Awards

Features: cc
Commentary by Mike White and Molly Shannon
The making of Year of the Dog
3 featurettes
Deleted scenes
Gag reel

Year of the Dog

Format: DVD

Release Date: 08/28/2007

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 96 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,Spanish

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Year of the Dog
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15

Derek Armstrong

Not surprising to anyone familiar with screenwriter Mike White's merciless outlook on humanity, Year of the Dog is not all sunshine and roses. However, those who've never heard of the man may come to White's first directing effort unwittingly, mistaking it for one of those cheery romantic comedies centered around pet ownership. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, it's difficult to tell what perspective White has on owning a pet. He's more interested in how animal activism can take over a person's life -- how a passionate hatred of animal cruelty, coupled with the perceived powerlessness to stop it, can overwhelm the psyche. If the movies have given us numerous superhero origin stories, Year of the Dog might be considered the origin story of a "crazy cat lady." (Molly Shannon plays a crazy dog lady, but we don't have that phrase in our lexicon.) It's difficult to watch Shannon's good intentions twisted into something single-minded and antisocial, though White is clever enough to keep things from seeming unremittingly dour. A bubbly score (by Christophe Beck) and a general sense of whimsy pervade Year of the Dog, which is certainly a lighter affair than either Chuck & Buck or The Good Girl (both written by White). Shannon, the Saturday Night Live vet, is to be commended for not trying to peddle any particular schtick. She could have played the character for laughs, but she and White are smart enough to make hers a story of subtle ennui and alienation, even while allowing some dry absurdities to creep through. (And to their credit, they leave the funniest moments to Laura Dern as an overprotective mother.) Year of the Dog doesn't ultimately carry a clear message, but as the study of a particular mindset driven to extremes, it has value. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Brad Pitt  Executive Producer 
Mike White  Director 
Mike White  Producer 
Mike White  Screenwriter 
Christophe Beck  Composer (Music Score) 
Tim Orr  Screenwriter 
Dede Gardner  Producer 
Nan Morales  Executive Producer 
Ben Le Clair  Producer 
Molly Shannon  Actor 
Laura Dern  Actor 
Regina King  Actor 
Tom McCarthy  Actor 
Josh Pais  Actor 
John C. Reilly  Actor 
Peter Sarsgaard  Actor 
Amy Schlagel  Actor 
Zoe Schlagel  Actor 
Dale Godboldo  Actor 
Inara George  Actor 
Liza Weil  Actor 
Jon Shere  Actor 
Christy Moore  Actor 
Audrey Wasilewski  Actor 
Brenda Canela  Actor 
Craig Cackowski  Actor 
Steve Berg  Actor 
Susan Mackin  Actor 
Chuck Duffy  Actor 
Sonya Eddy  Actor 
Ursula Brauner  Actor 
Giddle Partridge  Actor 

Country: USA