The New Home Owner's Guide to Happiness

In this poorly developed, approximately 30 minute short film, produced in part by Judge Reinhold for distribution by HBO, Paul and Shirley Darden (Reinhold and a very pregnant Demi Moore) are happy with their newly purchased suburban cul-de-sac home until, after being tormented through 12 sleepless nights due to continually barking dogs, the couple give in to desperation in essaying various methods of quieting the beasts, permanently if necessary, while not alerting pet owners of their plans. The nuisance from barking dogs is bane to many United States city dwellers (comprising the greatest number of law enforcement calls for service), and is a fitting subject for a satiric approach, but this film is more mean-spirited than comedic since both principals, in particular Reinhold, seem to be building up to the verge of distemper more readily than are the canines, with direction being notably weak and the editing clumsy, while attempts at ad-libbing from the poorly structured scenario are awkwardly flat.

Not spectacular, but an amusing half hour or thereabouts... the comments on natural childbirth and the lassie scenes alone make it worth watching. The premise is that a young, married couple, she hugely pregnant, move into a neighborhood full of dog owners, many of whom are quite irresponsible about their dogs. Sleep deprivation ensues and that sets the stage for this dark comedy. Judge Reinhold is the central character and he does well as the nice, affable guy pushed past reason by noisy or aggressive dogs and that beast most feared by all sensible men: A hormonal, pregnant wife. This flick will be especially appreciated, not by dog lovers, but by those who must tolerate them.