Danielle Solzman
A Dog’s Purpose is a sentimental tearjerker. It’s a film in which any animal lover will start to get emotional so be prepared by bringing some Kleenex tissues. If you don’t want to be seen crying in the theater, it would be wise to wait for the DVD.
Many people have already decided to boycott the film based on a highly edited video. That’s their loss. They chose to ignore the facts.
Lasse Hallström directs from a screenplay by W. Bruce Cameron & Cathryn Michon and Audrey Wells and Maya Forbes & Wally Wolodarsky. Cameron wrote the book in which the film was based.
Produced by Gavin Polone, the film stars Britt Robertson, KJ Apa, John Ortiz, Juliet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Peggy Lipton, Pooch Hall with Dennis Quaid and Josh Gad.
Bailey seeks to find the meaning of life and his own existence. He does so through all the humans that he interacts with through love and laughter. His story spans the course of five decades. Even as we see Bailey reincarnated through other canines during the course of the movie, it’s his unshakeable bond with Ethan that we never forget.
When Ethan (Bryce Gheisar), then 8 years old, and his mother (Juliet Rylance) see a golden retriever abandoned in a truck, they decide to adopt him. His father (Luke Kirby) has some hesitations but Ethan promises to do everything. During his teenage years, Ethan (KJ Apa) is rarely seen without Bailey by his side. Even when he meets Hannah (Britt Robertson) at the fair, it’s Bailey that makes the first move. The two are meant to be together but Ethan suffers a career-ending injury and breaks up with her. After he goes off to college, Bailey just isn’t the same and he just makes it back in time for that final goodbye. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be in tears.
Bailey gets reincarnated as Ellie, a German Shepherd K-9 first responder with the Chicago Police Department, and this is where the film draws controversy. Shortly thereafter, Bailey is reincarnated as a Corgi named Tino, and finally an Australian Shepherd/St. Bernard mix named Buddy. It’s through these lives that Bailey realizes what his purpose in life is.
In the final reincarnation depicted on screen, Bailey finds his way home to Ethan and finds a way to reunite Ethan with his high school sweetheart, Hannah.
