Review Summary: Unique, complex dog story is solid, if not exactly fun.
2019 has tried to be the year where the dog movie makes a comeback, but it hasn't exactly been successful. A Dog's Way Home failed to make an impressive mark, while A Dog's Journey didn't come anywhere near the success of A Dog's Purpose. With this particular title, its' yet another book adaptation (this one by Garth Stein). However, on the more positive side, there's plenty of things here that make this a more successful film than either of those films.
For one, the script has a more complex feel to it. That's in the midst of a much more straightforward story. This is mostly because of Enzo's dialogue. Voiced in narrator form by Kevin Costner, Enzo provides a more thoughtful and philosophical perspective that makes the overall dog story more mature and intriguing. That's a positive, even when it may go over the heads of the kids in the audience.
Secondly, there's a somber and more nuanced feel to the story. That mostlikely comes from Stein's novel. There's definitely some fun and humor peppered in, but it doesn't have as strong of a presence as you might expect. This film hits on some very heavy themes, some that may prove to be too much for sensitive younger members of the audience. It ends on a more positive note than expected, but its' still not exactly a happy experience.
But that's the point of the story too. The title, "Art of Racing in the Rain" works as a metaphor for life. It leads to a strong message of learning to live in the midst of life's difficulties, definitely a strong message that relates to me personally. Enzo sums it up that downpours or rain (or unpredictable elements) happen, and that it's important we keep on running or living life as best we can. It's a nice prevailing theme.
Yet, the pacing is a big problem. It takes a little bit to really get into the film, as Enzo's beginning isn't exactly much different from other dog stories. Yet, when Eve (Amanda Seyfried) enters the picture, things really start to click and gel. At the same time, the film's last half-hour seems to drag, though it does end very strongly. This uneven pacing may also be a bit of a problem for some audience members.
As far as the performances go, they're good. Milo Ventimiglia (from This is Us) makes a winning lead, excellently showcasing the positive and emotional sides of Denny. Seyfried is terrific here too, giving solid character and layers to future wife Eve. Costner excellently embodies Enzo's intelligence and personality. There's no weak link in the cast, as everyone seems to really bring convincing attitudes to their characters.
I can't call it a classic nor can I call it anywhere close to one of the year's best movies. But the fact that Art of Racing in the Rain is a pretty good movie definitely counts as a win. Of course, "pretty good" may not be enough for some (and its often too slow-paced and melancholic for its own good), but it's at least fairly worthwhile.
My Score: 7.4/10
Content Concerns for Family Viewing....
Rating: PG for "thematic material"
Recommended age range: mature 9/10 year olds and up.
Violence: Car crashes and dangerous accidents are mentioned. In one other scene, two characters get into a minor fight. One is smacked aside harshly, and breaks a rib (and possibly his wrist, too). Enzo hallucinates a stuffed animal stabbing another and then tears the stuffing out of himself. Later, we hear a daughter screaming. We then see a bunch of torn up stuffed animals with stuffing everywhere (this might upset sensitive children). Character hit by a car.
Language: In a heated argument, Denny spits out “what the h***?” twice, and his opponent misuses Jesus’ name once. Beyond that, I counted 9 uses of “oh my g**.”
Adult Content: Eve and Denny kiss multiple times. In one scene, we see them wrestling around in bed. (He’s only wearing underwear while Eve is fully-dressed; but it is implied that they slept together) Enzo mentions he understands why he’s attracted to her and her “plump buttocks” (the camera zooms in on her clothed rear end as he says this). After they marry, we see Eve get out of the shower with a towel around her. She opens her towel up to see herself in the mirror (we don’t see any nudity). In one other moment, Eve’s bare shoulders are seen.
Drugs/Alcohol: Beer bottles are seen in one or two scenes. Eve’s dad downs a couple of alcoholic beverages too.
Other: A few dog bathroom gags are seen. As a puppy, Enzo urinates a couple of times indoors. After being accidentally left at home for a few days, we see that he had a few accidents on the doormat. As an older dog, we see him lying in a puddle of urine. And, after ingesting a spicy pepper, we hear him defecate in a diarrhea-like substance on the carpet (we see the resulting mess). One character vomits. There is a discussion of a tapeworm. A father is shown to be manipulative and controlling over his granddaughter. In terms of emotionally-upsetting scenes, someone contracts a disease (presumably cancer) and later dies. At the end, Enzo is hinted at coming close to the end of his life.
In the meantime, there is quite a bit of mixed spiritual content here too. Enzo mentions that he saw a documentary on Mongolia about his ancestors roaming after death. He also agrees with their belief in reincarnation that dogs that lived good lives can come back again as humans. The very end of the film seems to agree on that sentiment. Enzo believes a stuffed zebra is a demon out to ruin his family. Hearing about a racer’s tragic death, he believes that the racer’s “body had finished its purpose.” He also mentions that he’s doing what the universe wants him to do. Enzo admits he saw that character’s soul leave upon passing.
