Decent
family films seem to be scarce. Part of the problem is finding balance. It seems
that many family films are either too hokey for the adults or too complex for
the kids. The surprisingly sweet My Dog Skip comes awfully close to bridging the
gap.
This
memoir takes place circa World War II as a young boy (played by Malcolm in the
Middle's Frankie Muniz) learns about life with the help of his Jack Russell terrier
Skip.
This film
gets plenty of help from Muniz who gives a sweet, natural performance. Kevin Bacon
also excels as Muniz's stern but loving father. Rounding out the terrific ensemble
are Diane Lane, Luke Wilson, and narrator Harry Connick Jr.
My
Dog Skip could have easily sunk to the sappy depths of Spitfire Grill and Simon
Birch, but thankfully, it stays afloat in a surprisingly restrained fashion (with
exception of a fairly cheesy football sequence).
Although
Skip is an exceptionally intelligent, director Jay Russell never lets the film
become a series of pretentious dog tricks. Instead, he tells the story of friendship
and the crossover to manhood, that, in a way, has a faint resemblance to Steven
Spielberg's E.T.
My
Dog Skip is that rare family film that does take chances and offers many unexpected
moments. It's also a journey that will not only teach valuable lessons to the
kids, but rekindle memories of our youth. Muniz plays a young boy that I think
many of us can relate to. My Dog Skip captures glorious nostalgia in first rate
fashion.
