‘Life cannot be captured. Human heart cannot be captured…’
This film is a curious beast. It has been deeply embedded in the hallowed IMDB top 250 films list for years now and yet I’ve never met anyone who has seen it. I’ve never heard it mentioned on any of the many film podcasts that I listen to. I’ve never seen its name in print (aside from on the aforementioned list). Does it exist? Is the whole film some kind of warped variation of the Mandela effect? Let’s dive in…
Parker Wilson (Richard Gere) adopts a beautiful dog named Hachi much to the chagrin of his wife Cate (Joan Allen). Predictably, the dog wins the hearts and minds of Cate and the rest of the Wilson clan and eventually becomes renowned around the town for waiting patiently at the train station for his master to arrive. What follows is a crushingly heartwrenching tale made all the most upsetting by the fact that it is based on a true story.
This film is the definition of a crowd-pleaser. Nominated for zero awards. Dismissed by critics. And yet, it is irresistible. Film critics despise sentimentality but sometimes life is sentimental. Often, in fact. People feel a deep connection to their pets (Hi, George), and so there is nothing wrong with celebrating this unique bond through the art of cinema. And this is undoubtedly the most wonderful dog ever committed to celluloid (although played in reality by three different dogs). Be warned though, this a sad film. Sadder than Marley and Me. Approach with caution.
It would be churlish in the extreme to be sniffy about A Dog’s Tale. Sure, it makes a conscious decision to pull on the heartstrings but this is quite simply a gorgeous true story about a man and his dog. Anyone with a heart should watch it. You’ll love it.