Entertainment

Channing Tatum’s ‘Dogs’ Bring Humor to Heartland


“Turner and Hooch.” “K-9.” “Beethoven.” And now, hit the drums, “DOG.”

Note the capital letters. This must be another dog movie, right?

Previous movies have played with our lowest common denominator, but “DOG” has something else in mind. It’s Hollywood’s latest attempt at explore PTSD with some eccentric dog hijinks for good measure.

That combination sounds terrible on paper. Not so, thanks to a lot of heart and empathy from the film’s star and co-director, Channing Tatum.

Tatum plays Briggs, a Ranger assigned to a strange mission. Escort an uncontrolled dog named Lulu over hundreds of miles so she can attend a soldier’s funeral. Lulu, a Belgian Malinois, stood with the martyrs on the battlefield.

Briggs sees this as an opportunity to revive an Army career that has been marred by a brain injury that he refuses to acknowledge outright. Nor will he consider how tough Lulu’s struggles on a road trip can be. She has her own emotional problems, from losing her beloved employer to having to work in the heat of many battles.

Even Cesar Milan could have trouble executing Lulu’s heel strike.

And that’s where the quirky antics begin. Lulu destroys everything within reach, from the interior of a truck to Briggs’ sense of self.

An expansion in which Briggs pretends to be blind moves the plot along but nothing more. It’s one of several missteps, the other highlighting a sexualized detour for Briggs, but the film quickly regains its purpose.

Equally knotty is an extended cameo by Bill Burr, moving from one pole to the next. Why is it in the movie? “DOG” has many such moments.

So give Tatum a lot of work for understanding the core themes and never keeping them out of the box. This is a journey of healing, and the beginning of a man who begins to return to the life he is, not the life he has long imagined.

Of course there’s a kid in the mix, a father Briggs hasn’t seen in a while. That element, while to be expected, doesn’t get the rough treatment we’d expect.

Life is messy. “DOGS” will not ignore that concept.

With a few nips and tucks, “DOG” can be something the whole family can watch together. As such, the movie PG:13 is just raw enough to make some audiences go unnoticed. That’s a pity, as the sexualized detour proves unnecessary to the unfolding story.

Conservatives may be shocked and giddy, that “DOgs” succinctly poke fun at sober thinking. This is a story of heart, a story of deep respect for American soldiers and the sacrifices they made for their country.

Social justice of all kinds? This is not for you.

We haven’t seen Tatum in a while, something of a shock for a star in his prime. He hasn’t had a major role since “Logan Lucky” 2017. “DOG” provides a tailored platformer for the “Magic Mike” alum. How many actors can get over an adorable dog and causing her to misbehave like “Marley”?

Hit or miss: “DOG” may seem like an odd mix of pitfalls and pathos, but Channing Tatum keeps the focus right where it belongs.





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