Cast: Luke Wilson, Natasha Henstridge, Kathleen Robertson, Janeane Garofalo, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney
Director: Bruce McCulloch
Producer: Susan Cavan
Screenplay: Bruce McCulloch
Cinematography: David A. Makin
Music: Christophe Beck, Craig Northey
U.S. Distributor: Lions Gate Pictures
If Dog Park was any lighter, it would float away. As an antidote to cynical and cruel-minded motion pictures, this movie works just fine. Its construction and execution leave us with the undeniable certainty that, in the end, everything will work out for the best. However, as is often the case with insubstantial fluff, its relentlessly chipper attitude grows wearisome. Fortunately, Dog Park's script contains enough genuinely funny moments that, despite a plot that never varies one step off the beaten path, it never quite wears out its welcome.
First there were church soirees and singles bars. Then there were grocery stores. Now, if you buy the premise set forth in this movie, there are dog parks. Most cities have them - a few green square blocks set in the midst of the urban landscape where everyone (with pooper-scooper in hand) takes their pet for his or her morning constitutional. It's also a great place for lonely thirtysomethings to meet. The animals give them an obvious bond and an easy conversation-starter, and, from there, it's just a matter of meeting a few times before there's a date and possibly a subsequent relationship. (Of course, if you're a cat person, this means you're doomed to be single for the rest of your life, since, to the best of my knowledge, there are no "cat parks.")
The central character in this Toronto-based movie is serial monogamist Andy (Luke Wilson), who has been involved in one romantic relationship after another since eighth grade. Because Andy can't stand to be by himself for more than four days, he has ended up being stranded in a long string of unfulfilling matches. His most recent girlfriend, Cheryl (Kathleen Robertson), has just dumped him for a less conventional mate. Andy and Cheryl are sharing custody of their dog, Mr. Mogley - a very confused animal who has to spend time in therapy with canine psychologist Dr. Cavan (Mark McKinney). Meanwhile, Andy sets his sights on another woman, the attractive Lorna (Nathasha Henstridge), who is the host of a TV kids' show. Of course, the path to true love isn't a smooth one, but both Andy and Lorna get plenty of advice - him from his buddies Jeri (Janeane Garofalo) and Jeff (Bruce McCulloch), and her from her co-worker, Rachel (Arnie Carey), who has an interesting theory about everyone being an individual link in an overall dating chain.
Dog Park was written and directed by "Kids in the Hall" member Bruce McCulloch, who doesn't approach this project with a particularly challenging agenda. His purpose is twofold: tell a cute love story and generate at least four or five solid laughs. He meets both objectives, but fails to achieve anything more memorable. To McCulloch's credit, he doesn't fall back on the obvious crutch of using the animals to provide life and humor when the humans aren't holding their own. Despite the inference of the title, Dog Park is about people who have more going on in their lives than their love of animals.
Luke Wilson (Home Fries) gives a bland performance as Andy. He's likable, but not much more, and the character's Woody Allen-inspired neuroses grow tiresome after a time. Model-turned-actress Natasha Henstridge (Species) is a little more natural, but she and Wilson don't burn up the screen with chemistry. The always delightful Janeane Garofalo is underused. She has a few nice scenes, but lacks the exposure she deserves. Almost everyone else falls into the category of background noise with the exception of Mark McKinney (like McCulloch, also a "Kids in the Hall" alumnus). The deadly serious Dr. Cavan provides the source for the best comic material, and McKinney find the perfect vein in which to play the character.
This movie has been kicking around since September 1998, when it premiered at that year's Toronto International Film Festival, where it was well received by a partisan crowd. However, despite having secured the distribution rights early in the process, Lions Gate has constantly pushed back the opening date. The movie won't have a long run in theaters, and will almost certainly wind up on video fairly quickly. That's probably the right move, since something with so little substance is a much better fit for home enjoyment than for theatrical viewing. Dog Park has its charms but fails to leave any sort of lasting impression.
© 1999 James Berardinelli