DOG GONE
US, 2022, 95 minutes, Colour.
Rob Lowe, Johnny Berchtold, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Nick Peine.
Directed by Stephen Herek.
If you are a dog lover, this film will have great appeal, especially the dog and its cuteness and its tricks. If you are not a dog lover, beware.
This film is based on a true story, of a young man, Fielding, rather aimless in his life, achieving a college degree but sleeping in, by the river with his dog, and missing his graduation, his parents having travelled to participate. All his friends have jobs, including his close friend, Nate. He goes home with his parents, taking the dog – his mother more sympathetic, his father not.
Fielding is played by Johnny Berchtold, his parents were Rob Lowe and Kimberly Williams-Paisley, and Nick Peine is his eccentric friend, Nate.
Father is converted to liking the dog, named Gonkers, the mother remembering in several flashbacks her having a dog when young, her mother being strict and not allowing the dog in the house when visitors were present, it’s a death in a car accident.
The main action of the film is Gonker’s chasing a fox and becoming lost, wandering the Appalachian Trail, filmed in all its beauty. Mother stays at home, coordinating information, media inquiries. Dad goes with Fielding, trekking long distances, putting up notices, getting all kind of help and advice, unexpectedly from a bikie leader, International information, dog owners very sympathetic.
The trek takes its toll on Fielding who is ill when the dog returns. But a postscript indicates that he leads kayaking groups in Chile. And the credits have all the cast and crew photographed with their pet dogs!
The film was directed by Stephen Herek, a veteran of 30 years whose films range widely but include the 90s The Three Musketeers and, one of his best, Mr Holland’s Opus.
- A film dog lovers? Not a film for not dog lovers?
- The Virginia settings, the University, McLean, homes, the countryside, the Appalachian mountain trail? The musical score?
- The focus on Fielding, his age, at college, his friendship with Nate, discussions, all friends having jobs, his having no job? Girlfriend leaving him? Gazing at the girl with the dog – at the dog? Going to the pound, the decision to take the dog, its name, Gonkers, bonding, his parents arriving, his sister, his missing his graduation, excuses?
- Fielding’s parents, their attitude towards their son, seeing him as irresponsible? His return home? The dog, their initial reaction?
- Audiences enjoying the dog sequences, Gonkers? The family changing their mind? Mother and her memories of her childhood, her stern mother, getting the dog, its not being allowed in the house during socials? Her grief at the accident and death? The placing of the flashbacks?
- Gonker’s, tricks and games, with the father, fetch, interrupting his conference? The acceptance of Gonkers, his chasing the fox and disappearing?
- The bulk of the film in the search, the beauty of the Appalachian Trail? Mother at home, fielding calls, journalists, newspaper articles, information? Father and Fielding going on the track? The two weeks of search? The detail of the trek, the countryside? The response of the public, notices, the newspapers, the bikies and their help, various individuals giving information, messages from all over the world, from Africa? Nate helping? The repercussions for father and son? Fielding and his not eating, ill? His final collapse? The message on the wrong dog?
- Gonker’s coming home, the joy of the family, fielding and his illness, hospital?
- The postscript, fielding and his work in Chile and kayaking tours?
- The credits, the cast and all the crew photographed with their pet dogs!
