Poignant heart-warmer
Be here now. Have fun. Save people. Lick the ones you love. This quartet of commandments explains the title of this heart-warming film based on W. Bruce Cameron’s bestseller about a dog that reincarnates several times in which it introspects on the meaning of life. Humans may be blind to God’s purpose for us, but the celluloid dog is full of clarity when it distils the four doggie commandments to just one: Unconditional love. Like real life mutts, the reel canines love unconditionally, a characteristic associated with deity. It's not for nothing then that dog spelt backwards is god.
Hallstrom ignites love for canines from the word Woof! Held in high regard across diverse cultures, dogs were greatly esteemed by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks; still are, by the Parsis. Interestingly, Hallstrom’s hero dog makes no references to lineage while ruminating on the raison d’être of its existence. It is, for the most part, contemplative as it reincarnates in different breeds and genders.
From Bailey the golden retriever (voiced by Josh Gad) raised by Ethan Montgomery; to the trained K9 Ellie, steadfast companion of a grieving Chicago cop called Carlos (John Ortiz) and Tino, the little Corgi raised by bright black college student Maya (Kirby Howell Baptiste) or one that’s mistreated by white trash, and abandoned on the mean streets. Verily I say unto you: how we treat animals says a lot about us. My favourite dog story is the one from the Mahabharat about Yudisthira who refuses to enter heaven without his dog. Likewise, in the film, the K9 always has the cop's back. In its other avatars, the four legged protagonist even plays Cupid. It's an idyllic life for mutt and Master Ethan (K J Apa) who gets a college football scholarship, but a tragedy shatters dreams of happily ever after. While Ethan and Hannah (Britt Robertson) go their separate ways.
The plot device of reincarnation may not work for those who might yearn for some spirituality or simply prefer an episodic structure with the different dogs as sutradhars. Still, Bailey's quest applies equally to humans and the film depicts just how shallow life can be without affection and extols the relationship between dog and wo(man). Needless to say, gentle reader, I sniffed all through the film.