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Reviews

Year of the Dog

Not too mangy

By BRETT MICHEL | April 18, 2007

2.5 Stars

VIDEO: Watch the trailer for The Year of the Dog.

Ever been to the pound? There’s almost nothing sadder than neglected dogs awaiting their fates. If they aren’t released through the love of a new owner at the eleventh hour, then it’s off to the euthanized Big Pile at the twelfth. In writer Mike (Chuck & Buck, The School of Rock) White’s directing debut, Saturday Night Live alum Molly Shannon bats doomed puppy eyes as Peggy, an office assistant/future spinster who’s never found a better companion than her beloved beagle, Pencil. When Pencil dies suddenly, Peggy is shattered. Much like a pooch gazing forlornly from a cage, she goes on a disastrous date with the gun-and-knife nut next door (John C. Reilly) before fruitlessly wagging her tail at Newt (Peter Sarsgaard), an asexual ASPCA worker who sets her on a vegan crusade of slightly mad pet repatriation. White’s eye has yet to match his writing, but despite a few fleas, his mangy mutt deserves adoption.

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Topics: Reviews , John C. Reilly, Peter Sarsgaard, Molly Shannon, More

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