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Gone Doggy Gone - Movie Review

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4 stars

All jokes about titles aside, Gone Doggy Gone is not a parody. It IS; however, very funny as it examines the uninspiring relationship of one couple so completely obsessed with their Teacup Yorkie that they are willing to pay $30,000 for its safe return when it is dognapped. Imagine, if you will, a film that mixes the wit of David O. Russell’s Flirting with Disaster with a sardonic criticism of the burgeoning dog culture of Los Angeles with all of its baby Bjorn attire and stroller pampering. Yes, my fellow freaks and geeks, this holier-than-thou hipster lifestyle – in which the dog is the substitute for the child – is a real thing.

Written, directed, and starring Kasi Brown and Brandon Walter, Gone Doggy Gone is the story of Abby (Brown) and Elliot Harmon (Walter) and their dog, Laila. They are always on the “go” and always dialed in to their Bluetooth. Outside of pouring wine for each other, they rarely make time for their relationship.  Their dog gets all of the attention and, when not at home, they have Jill (Shaina Vorspan), the hired dogsitter, to look after her. Jill, perfectly content to have her BFF be a dog, is the only one who is apparently normal in this situation...or so we are led to believe. 

Jill’s life, rather suddenly, spirals into the dark ether of chaos after her boyfriend dumps her and her job is yanked right from under her feet (in a hilarious scene of office onlookers and food-stealing that rivals anything in Office Space). When the Harmon’s announce their move to San Francisco, she finds herself making a rash decision that will surface the imperfections of everybody and change the direction of lives by bringing – after a hilarious road trip – everyone closer together.

Co-starring Richard Riehle, Kate Connor, and Jeff Sloniker (who nearly steals the second act of the comic caper as the despondent PI hired to track down Jill), Gone Doggy Gone takes our natural tendencies to favor avoidance over confrontation on the road and has us gaze at some pretty introspective scenery. While never uncomfortable, the insight offered up about these people is relatable and visually engaging as it serves up parody, dream sequences, and fantasies as a hapless PI falls for his target. Mix in some masturbatory hijinks and sharp banter throughout and Gone Doggy Gone is a serious win for the voice of independent filmmaking.

While I made my great escape from the Hollywood Hills in the late 1990s, braver people than myself soldiered on to confront this bizarre human behavior of treating dogs like children. It was only in the early stages of becoming a trend when I left. I can only imagine what the scene is like now with the availability of specialty shops and social media groups spreading the message about this absurd behavior.   This is why the 90 minutes of Gone Doggy Gone and its critical lens are so necessary. People - especially in L.A. - do some wacky shit and need to be called out on it. Leave it to an authenitc voice such as the one in this film to make us actually feel for them.

Brown and Walter, creators of the web-based comedy sketch show Mother Approved, bring their knack for social criticism, examining bizarre human behavior, and the hilarity that ensues in the wake of such microscopic scrutiny to much of Gone Doggy Gone and, while a bit uneven in that the front of the film is loaded with more laughs than later parts, the comedy is abundantly clear as some harsh truths are handed out about relationships between men and women … and their pets.

The point is that everyone is searching for something to make life meaningful but (maybe) treating a dog (no matter its size) like a baby is not the appropriate avenue for safe travel. Seems rather serious for a comedy to approach but the filmmakers pull it off with incredible skill, never looking both ways for oncoming traffic before crossing that road. And why should they play it safe?  Unconventional comedy is always honest comedy.  Several times, my sympathies shifted from character to character regardless of how foolish they seemed or were acting and I appreciate a film that can make me laugh at and feel for characters without treating them like ass-clowns. No one is the bad guy. Everybody is flawed.  

Gone Doggy Gone is a complex character-driven comedy that, once unleashed, takes audiences on a wild journey through the hills we call human emotions.  It is not to be missed.

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Gone Doggy Gone - Movie Review

MPAA Rating: Unrated.
Runtime:
89 mins
Director
: Kasi Brown, Brandon Walter
Writer:
Kasi Brown, Brandon Walter
Cast:
Kasi Brown, Brandon Walter, Kate Connor
Genre
: Comedy | Adventure
Tagline:
Gone Doggy Gone.
Memorable Movie Quote: "You two, need to make a baby."
Distributor:
Indican Pictures
Official Site: http://www.gonedoggygone.com/vod/
Release Date:
No theatrical release
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
No details available
Synopsis: Gone Doggy Gone is a comedy about a couple stuck in a lackluster marriage who treat their dog like a baby. Working the grind in Los Angeles they leave little time for each other and what free time they have they spend doting on the dog… until it gets kidnapped! What ensues is an outlandish cat and mouse adventure as they hunt down the kidnapper, enlist a slick dick P.I., find a renewed love for each other, and conquer their fear of parenthood.

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[tab title="Blu-ray Review"]

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