A DOG’S PURPOSE

US, 2017, 100 minutes, Colour.
Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Peggy Lipton, Bryce Gheisar, K.J. Apa, Juliet Rylance, Luke Kirby, Gabrielle Rose, Michael Bofshver, Britt Robertson, Kirby Howell- Baptiste, John Ortiz.
Directed by Lasse Halstrom.

Most humans know the purpose of the dog, our best friend. However, this film offers the opportunity to hear the nature of the canine purpose from the dog’s own mouth. He is Bailey, voiced by comedian Josh Gad, who narrates the whole film, has a doggy approach to life, frequently asking about the purpose of life but taking refuge even more frequently in considerations of having fun and eating.

Since there are millions of humans around the globe who are dog-lovers, there is a strong target audience for this canine autobiography. Those who are not dog lovers or those who are rather indifferent to dogs might not be so enchanted, perhaps thinking and feeling that it is all a bit silly.

The film is based on novels by W Bruce Cameron which have proven very popular.

One of the presuppositions of Cameron’s dog lives is reincarnation. A touch of reincarnation since the director, Lasse Halstrom, made an impact in the 1980s with his My Life as a Dog.

A Dog is Born but is soon, after nursing and nestling, taken by the dog-catchers. And then the first of a number of rebirths, this time as Bailey, found by a young boy, Ethan, who is allowed to keep the dog by his parents. Bailey tells us this is all wonderful, has commentary on the family life, his reactions to Ethan, the adults, games and play, fetching balls, enjoying his food, perfecting a trick whereby an old football is tossed in the air, Bailey leaps over Ethan’s back and catches the ball in his mouth (a rather crucial fact for the ending of the film).

Then Ethan becomes a teenager, teased about his love for Bailey. But Ethan is a top football player, encounters a young girl at a fair, Hannah, and is smitten, the couple enjoying each other’s company during the summer, and including Bailey in all the activities.

But all is not well, Ethan’s father drinks and is abusive, leaves. And a jealous boy from school has a prank with a firecracker which leads to the burning down of the house, some heroics from Bailey, and a disastrous accident for Ethan, some wallowing in self-pity which includes ousting Hannah from his life. For those not in the know about reincarnation, this happens surprisingly halfway through the film as Bailey pines and dies.

The next thing, birth, and his next incarnation as female, Elle, working for Hispanic Carlos, a widower, on the Chicago police force, training Elle as a sniffer dog – at which she excels. There is a crisis when a thug abducts a young girl, the action on a vast water flow and filter, the girl in the water, Elle rescuing her. And just as were settling into that story, death again, birth again.

This time Bailey makes the acquaintance of Maya, a student at college, rather quiet in herself, not comfortable in being invited to study meetings, staying at home reading with her dog who seems to read her mind as to what they will eat, pizza being a pleasant choice. When Bailey in his new incarnation tangles amorously in the park with a rather bigger dog, Roxy, he finds that Roxy belongs to the young man who offered Maya, the invitation to the group. Happy together, couple and dogs, wedding, children, family. And just as we were settling into this story, death again, birth again.

This time Bailey, remembering everything and telling us so, is taken up by young woman who lives in a trashy neighbourhood and a trashy house, her partner eventually abandoning the dog. And where does he find himself, but back in Michigan, one day scenting the adult Hannah, realising he is back in Ethan’s territory, and tracks him down (Dennis Quaid). This time he is called Buddy but he rejoices, so he tells us, in being with Ethan again, in running away and having Hannah bring him back home, in bringing the two together – but the only thing is for Ethan to recognise that he is Bailey (and that is where that trick, mentioned earlier, does the trick).

Were Bailey to mention a rating for this film, he would probably suggest five woofs out of five.

1. Bailey’s message at the end: Be here now? The theory of the dog as any human’s best friend, the dog as saving, affirming and licking?

2. The four stories in one, different aspects of the dog’s life and purpose? The theory of reincarnation of the dog? The dog remaining Bailey whatever lives it had? Josh Gad’s voice and comic tones? Bailey being he, she? The final linking up of the last story with the first?

3. The Manitoba location standing in for Michigan? The town, houses, the roads, the countryside, the fair, school, sport? The contrast with Chicago, the police work, the waterworks and release? Contrast with the American College, homes? The story of the trash house? The return to Michigan? The musical score?

4. The 60s to the 90s, the different visual styles, the range of songs representing the period?

5. The dog, the voice-over, personality, the underlying personality at the different manifestations? Bailey being born, nurtured – and the return to birth and suckling sequences? Being caught, the voiceover on being happy, playing, eating – and asking questions about purpose? Ethan finding him, taking him home, the parents and discussion, the permission, the cat in the house and confrontations, Bailey happy, the games, catch, Ethan and the coin and Bailey swallowing it, excreting it? Causing mayhem at the dinner with the boss and his wife? Ethan’s father and the difficulties, wanting an office job, on the road, drinking? Ethan and his teen years, football skills, the taunts of the other boy, seeing Bailey as a pet, the fights? Father and his clashes with his wife, Ethan ousting him? Ethan punching the boy? The fireworks, setting the house on fire, Bailey and the rescue? Ethan and his injury? The role of the grandparents and their hospitality and affirmation? Ethan, the accident, injury, going to college, the break with Hannah after all the enjoyment of her company, the fair? Bailey’s final chase? Climbing and dying?

6. Carlos, Chicago, Elle, the training, skill in finding things? Carlos, widow, lonely? The abduction story, the waterworks, the abductor, Carlos pursuing, Elle and her pursuit, the girl falling into the water, rescuing her? Being shot?

7. Another rebirth, Maya and her studies, playing with the dog, food and the joke about reading her mind, the offer to go to meetings, refusing, going to the vet, the need for better food and exercise, seeing Roxy, the tangle of the dogs, Maya meeting the man again, sharing life, watching Dynasty, sleeping, two dogs, the happy wedding, the children?

8. Born-again, the life in the trashy house, lack of care, being set free, and the scent, going home, discovering Ethan? Being called Buddy? Happy, play, sensing Ethan, finding Hannah, and her bringing Buddy home, Ethan’s reluctance, the opportunity, proposing a date with Hannah?

9. Hanna, widow, children, extended family, the wedding, the meal, Bailey wanting to be identified, the tricks with Ethan, the recognition?

10. The popularity of the novel, the popularity of this film?