WHO GETS THE DOG?

US, 2016, 95 minutes, Colour.
Ryan Kwanten, Alicia Silverstone, Randall Batinkoff, Matty Ryan, Rachel Cerda, Scott Silver.
Directed by Huck Botko.


Who Gets the Dog? is a slight romantic comedy, Alicia Silverstone playing a doctor in a relationship with Ryan Kwanten as a hockey player. The bond between them is their pet Labrador, Wesley.

This is a story of the hockey player being immature, the exasperation of his partner, the doctor. They decide to separate – and the question is of the custody of the dog. The hockey player takes it to his caravan where he mopes and lives in squalor. There are attempts at reconciliation and psychology and trainer visits with the dog.

One of his friends and his nephew help to bring the player out of himself, he is selected and plays but is injured – although the court gives him custody of the dog. There is a scene at a dog fair where the player dresses up as a bumblebee and declares his love, clashing with the righteous trainer who is dating the doctor. The injury in the hockey game takes the player to hospital – and to a reconciliation.

1. A popular comedy? And the focus on dogs?

2. Chicago settings, homes, fairs, dog shows, psychologist offices, training offices, court? The caravan in the countryside? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Wesley? Pet and companion? With Clay, with Olive? Glenn and his intrusion?

4. Clay and Oliver, the relationship, she a doctor, he a hockey player, maturity and lack of maturity, clashes, the decision to separate, the issue of the dog?

5. Attempts at reconciliation, the visit to the psychologist and the return, failure? The visit to the trainer? Olive and her love, Clay and his devotion? Clashes when they met?

6. Clay, in his caravan, morose? Rhett and Coach, their visit, encouraging Clay? His attempts at reconciliation, poems, video, dressing up as the bumblebee and his declaration, going to the fair, the clashes with Glenn?

7. The hockey background, Clay and his abilities, being chosen, play, Rhett and Coach and hockey, Clay and his injury, hospital, Olive’s visit?

8. The visit to the court, Clay and his failure to keep the appointment, Olive seeming against him, the contract, his being given custody of Wesley?

9. Wesley being lost, the search, finding him? Clay wanting to give Olive the dog?

10. Hospital, the visit, the reconciliation, the dog – and the future?