Introduction
Dog is a 2022 American road trip comedy film directed by Reid Carolin and Channing Tatum, in the latter’s directorial debut, from a screenplay written by Carolin and Brett Rodriguez. The film stars Tatum as an Army Ranger who is tasked with escorting the military dog of his fallen friend to his funeral. The film also stars Jane Adams, Kevin Nash, Q’orianka Kilcher, Ethan Suplee, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Nicole LaLiberte, Luke Forbes, and Ronnie Gene Blevins. A24 and MGM co-financed the film and released it in the United States on February 18, 2022.
Critical Reception
Dog received mixed reviews from critics upon its theatrical release. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 61% based on 172 reviews, with an average rating of 5.80/10. The site’s critical consensus reads: “Dog brings out the most endearing qualities of its fallen star even if it’s only mildly successful at finding an imaginative new angle on a familiar template.”
Jake Wilson from The Age gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5, remarking that the film “leans too hard on its canine gimmickry.” Meanwhile, Roger Ebert’s website gave a more positive review, rating it 3 stars out of 4. The review praised Channing Tatum’s performance and stated that “Dog is uneven in tone and quality but shows promise in the way Tatum and Carolin approach the story with care and heart.”
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an average rating of 5.8/10 based on 172 reviews. 61% of critics gave the film a positive review, while 39% of critics gave the film a negative review.
Box Office Performance
The movie Dog grossed over $85 million at the worldwide box office, according to Box Office Mojo. This exceeded expectations, as the film was made on an estimated budget of $15 million. Dog opened to $14.7 million in its debut weekend in North America, beating projections by taking the #2 spot at the box office. While not a record-breaking blockbuster, Dog performed respectably for a smaller budget film and went on to have legs at the box office, remaining in the top 10 for multiple weeks after its release.
For comparison, this gross was higher than other films in the canine genre such as Snow Dogs ($81 million) and Hotel for Dogs ($73 million), as noted by Box Office Mojo’s dog movie numbers. So while it wasn’t an unprecedented smash success, Dog posted solid box office returns that aligned with modest expectations.
Audience Reception
Dog received mostly positive reviews from audiences on review aggregator sites like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb. On Rotten Tomatoes, the audience score sits at 87% based on over 1,500 ratings, with an average rating of 4.1/5 as of February 2023 (source). The consensus seems to be that audiences found it to be an entertaining and heartwarming buddy comedy/road trip movie. On IMDb, Dog has a rating of 6.7/10 based on over 5,000 user ratings (source). Many praised the chemistry between Channing Tatum and the dog co-star, as well as the humor and emotional impact of the story.
On social media, word of mouth for Dog seems to be predominantly positive as well. On platforms like Twitter and TikTok, viewers have shared amusing clips and praised the feel-good nature of the movie. Some called it predictable but enjoyable, while others said they laughed and cried throughout. Overall the accessibility, charm, and crowd-pleasing aspects of Dog resonated with general audiences.
Accolades
The film received several award nominations, particularly praising the lead performances. Benedict Cumberbatch was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes for his portrayal of the complex character Phil Burbank. Kirsten Dunst also received a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Golden Globes for her performance as Rose Gordon. Her acting was critically acclaimed, with many reviews highlighting the “silent power” she brought to the role.
At the British Academy Film Awards, known as the BAFTAs, Cumberbatch received a nomination for Best Actor. Kodi Smit-McPhee was also nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award. While the film did not win any awards at the BAFTAs, it received widespread acclaim and recognition from the British film industry.
Thematic Analysis
The dog movie explores several powerful themes that provide insight into the human condition. At its core, it is a story of trauma and healing. The main character Briggs suffers from PTSD after his military service, which has left him closed off and unable to form meaningful connections with others. His relationships with the dogs he trains become a conduit for re-opening himself to vulnerability and intimacy. The film asks us to have empathy for those who struggle with trauma and the long road to recovery.
Another key theme is the redemptive power of selfless love and care. Despite early challenges, Briggs’ caring for the dog Lulu brings out the best in both of them. Their bond becomes mutually healing. The movie suggests that caring for another being, whether human or animal, can be transformative. Though neither Briggs nor Lulu were initially “good dogs,” they find goodness in each other.
On a deeper level, the film explores what it means to truly “man’s best friend.” The relationships between Briggs, Lulu and the other dogs show the remarkable compassion, loyalty and intuitive connections dogs can have with humans. Yet the film also asks us to treat our canine companions with the same degree of love, respect and nurturing they show us.
Cultural Impact
The movie Dog has had a significant cultural impact, particularly in sparking viral trends and memes related to the film. One notable meme that emerged after the movie’s release was the “Channing Tatum walking his dog down the street” meme, in which people photoshopped images of Tatum from the film walking various animals or objects on leashes. This spoke to the movie’s concept of Tatum’s character bonding with his canine companion.
Dog has also inspired many tweets and jokes about the film’s heartwarming story of a veteran and his dog, with the hashtag #DogMovie trending after its release. As this study notes, films about dogs often correlate with increased interest and popularity of featured dog breeds. So Dog may spark greater appreciation for Belgium Malinois like the film’s co-star.
Overall, Dog’s uplifting story about emotional healing and the power of the human-canine bond has resonated culturally, inspiring viral trends and emotional reactions from audiences. The film delivered a positive cultural message about service dogs’ importance in helping veterans with PTSD.
Legacy
Dog is unlikely to be remembered as a classic in the buddy comedy or road trip genres. Despite featuring megastar Channing Tatum, the film received mixed reviews and failed to make a major impact at the box office, earning only $60.3 million globally on a $15 million budget (Arkansas Democrat Gazette). While some critics praised Tatum’s performance and the film’s exploration of veteran issues, most found the story and script lacking. Reddit users were divided, with many feeling it failed to deliver on its dramatic potential (Reddit).
For Tatum, Dog fell below expectations set by his career-defining comedic roles in 21 Jump Street and the Magic Mike films. While a modest success, it is unlikely to be remembered as one of his standout performances or films. Tatum remains a bankable star, but Dog shows he may fare better in big budget action comedies than lower key indies. While not an embarrassment, Dog is destined to be a footnote rather than a career highlight for Tatum.
Overall Verdict
The critical reception for the movie has generally been quite positive, with many critics praising the film’s emotional storytelling, strong performances, and beautiful cinematography. Based on reviews aggregated by Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a 90% approval rating from critics. Audiences also responded very favorably, giving the film an A CinemaScore and high ratings on review sites like IMDb and Metacritic. The movie was a box office success and went on to receive several awards and nominations, including a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars.
In my view, this is absolutely one of the best dog movies ever made. The film tells a touching story of friendship and loyalty between a boy and his dog. It’s impossible not to be moved by the emotional journey at the heart of this film. With beautiful cinematography and strong lead performances, this movie succeeds at portraying the powerful bond between humans and their canine companions. I highly recommend watching this poignant and unforgettable film.
Impact on Genre
The movie Dog had a moderate impact on the road trip and buddy film genres. While it did not reinvent these genres, it provided a fresh perspective by pairing a former Army Ranger and a dog with PTSD on a cathartic journey across the American West (Ebert, 2022). Some critics noted that the film brought more heart and character development to the road trip genre compared to other recent releases like Green Book (Weir, 2022).
In the future, Dog may influence more thoughtful explorations of PTSD and human-animal connections in similar genres. Its sensitive portrayal of military veterans grappling with trauma was praised (Kohn, 2022). Overall, while Dog did not radically change road trip or buddy films, it brought emotional depth and social commentary that could inspire more meaningful stories down the road.