The Dog Problem (2007)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: C
Scott
Caan has been putting around, not making much of an impact as an actor and
though there is a career there, no risks have meant no major
accomplishments. Now, he is trying to
direct and The Dog Problem (2007)
marks a mixed debut that is not just another disposable work like so many he
has appeared in (and he acts in this one, though maybe he should have decided
not to) and the overall result is much like Caan’s career: greatness constantly
misses by being too laid back.
That is
when he relies on the actors, who are really trying to show their support for
him by giving him really good work, but the film inadvertently and suddenly
feels like it is on auto pilot and though it has some good moments, never
really works. Caan’s screenplay (for
which he takes sole credit) is littered with clichés and jokes that might have
been funny back in the 1970s when they were original (the gal dog owner lead
character (played by) Giovanni Ribisi is interested in works at a strip club)
and create a tired atmosphere. Kevin
Corrigan, Lynn Collins, Mena Suvari and Don Cheadle also star.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image is shot in HD and you can tell but image
hazing and other flaws in this tradedown.
Color is consistent enough and the set up is not bad overall, shot by
Director of Photography Phil Parmet taking a break from genre work for a change. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix is really
stretching out the original sound out thin.
You can hear the jokes and dialogue, then wish you had not. At least Mark Mothersbaugh’s score is not bad. The only extras include deleted scenes,
behind the scenes and a separate making of featurette.
- Nicholas Sheffo
