Year of the Dog (2007/I)

Director:

Mike White

Writer (WGA):

Mike White (written by)

Release Date:

31 August 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Has the world left you a stray?

Plot:

A secretary's life changes in unexpected ways after her dog dies.

Plot Keywords:

Homosexual | Victorias Secret | Protest | Snl Alum | Dog Pound

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Molly Shannon	...	Peggy
Laura Dern	...	Bret
Regina King	...	Layla
Thomas McCarthy	...	Pier
Josh Pais	...	Robin
John C. Reilly	...	Al
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Newt
Amy Schlagel	...	Lissie
Zoe Schlagel	...	Lissie
Dale Godboldo	...	Don
Inara George	...	Holly
Liza Weil	...	Trishelle
Jon Shere	...	Pound Employee
Christy Moore	...	Al’s Girlfriend (as Christy Lynn Moore)
Audrey Wasilewski	...	Audrey

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some suggestive references.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 | UK:PG | South Korea:12 | Ireland:PG

Filming Locations:

Altadena, California, USA

Company:

Black & White Productions

Trivia:

The website where Molly makes her card is a real website for making greeting cards.

Quotes:

Al: So, you ever been married?
Peggy: No. No... That I mean that I never, you know I guess I never... that... that... that never happened. But I think some people just aren't as... you know... I don't know. It's like that, I guess.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Molly Shannon/Linkin Park (#32.19)" (2007)

Finding direction, finding a purpose

To be honest, isn't everyone a little obsessed? Many characters in Year of the Dog have their own obsessions, their own ways of giving meaning or purpose to their lives.

The hunting neighbor is obsessed with his knife collection and his hunting fantasies. Peggy's sister is obsessed with her children. Her friend is obsessed with man-hunting and dating.

But Peggy lacks direction to her life. It's a plain vanilla existence for her, until a shattering event happens in her dull little world of routine.

Peggy's world expands, and she considers many things previously unknown to her.

She tries on new ideas, and in her own way finds her own "obsession" that also is less selfish than the paths chosen by others around her.

People who are unexcited by a purpose are pretty dull, but if we need to find something to give our lives direction and substance, why not choose an interest that helps others, including animals? Mike White has created a movie touches on a subject that many people experience, but few films cover.

It's a gem!