Totally paw-some A
A boy tries to rescue puppies in Japan — through Wes Anderson’s weird and wonderful lens
LL director Wes Anderson needed to do to get the green light for his new movie was say, “It’s set on an island filled with dogs!”
How could studio execs resist? The only things audiences love more than puppies are pizza and Steve Harvey.
But don’t buy a ticket to Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs” if you’re in the mood for some vacuous “awws.” This is still the same director who had Gwyneth Paltrow’s finger chopped off as a comic bit in “The Royal Tenenbaums” — and he is never going to deliver a “Lassie,” a “Homeward Bound” or an “Air Bud,” either. That’s not his doggie bag. Anderson’s gorgeous stopmotion animated film is much more than just a transdermal patch for America’s cuteness addiction. Instead, he’s crafted a wicked smart satire of moronic local politicians that fits in snuggly with his eclectic oeuvre.
OK, and the dogs are totally adorable — even when they’re gnawing at imperious government overreach.
Here’s how our furry friends become embroiled in a political scandal: Twenty years in the future, nearly all pups in a Japanese city are infected with dangerous diseases called dog flu and snout virus. So, macho mayor Kobayashi banishes them to a garbage-dump island. Believe me, it’s no St. Barks.
The first canine to make the sad trip: Spots (Liev Schreiber), the pet of the mayor’s nephew, Atari.
Peeved, Atari (Koyu Rankin) flies a tiny plane to the island and works with the resident rovers to rescue his best pal. Meanwhile, back on the mainland, a very propup student newspaper uncovers sinister details about Kobayashi and his doggone plot.
The story, told with Anderson’s signature visual flair and madcap pace, is his most touching movie since 2012’s “Moonrise Kingdom.”
The pack — Duke, Boss, Rex, King and Chief, a rebel stray — are voiced respectively by Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Bob Balaban and Bryan Cranston. Because these formidable actors embrace the personas you best know them for, these are some of the finest and funniest vocal performances you’ll find in any animated film. All a bit schlubby, the group behaves like beer buddies shooting the breeze in the bleacher seats at a baseball game. Don’t go petting these dudes, though.
Obviously, the mostly American cast is not fluent in Japanese. So, as a very creative workaround, Anderson has his dogs talk in English while almost all the humans speak the native tongue. To avoid using subtitles, the director includes radio or TV broadcasters to translate for them. One is portrayed by Frances McDormand, who just won an Oscar for playing a far more serious part than this one.
Another fleeting voice is that of Yoko Ono. In just one scene, she plays the role of . . . AssistantScientist Yoko-ono. Not kidding.
Parents: Beware of “Dogs.” An easy mistake to make here is to take a glance at the poster, strap your kid in the car seat and beeline to the movie theater. It’s an animated film with puppies, after all. Although adults and teens will cherish “Isle of Dogs,” it may traumatize young children. For instance, not all of the pups survive the trip to the island. Wanna explain that to Little Billy?
Everybody else: Enjoy a real dog treat.