# Dog Park (1998)

### reviewed by
Allan Jenoff

    Dog Park
    Directed by:  Bruce McCulloch
    Starring: Natasha Henstridge, Luke Wilson, Janeane Garofalo,
    Kathleen Robertson, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney
    Running time:  91 minutes
    My rating (5 star scale): ***1/2

A young couple have split and are fighting over custody of their dog, Mowgli. Another, seemingly perfect, couple have two dogs. A lonely woman who hosts a children's tv show has a dog called Peanut. They all take their pets to the dog park. They all take them to the same obedience instructor. And pretty soon they have all met.

This is a film about relationships and how they do and don't work. Andy misses Mowgli. And his exgirlfriend Cheryl gives up custody whent their pet's therapist says Mowgli's sudden unhappiness is due to witnessing Cheryl and her boyfriend have boisterous sex. Since Andy isn't having any sex, his house is a better home. But Andy meets Lorna (Peanuts owner). They meet in a bar where she picks him up and they go to his place where she promptly throws up. Despite this less than best first date, Andy likes her and sends her flowers - against the advice of his friend Jeri (the female half of the perfect couple). But Lorna throws out the flowers and vows never to see him again.

Jeri then convinces Andy to participate in a bachelor auction for charity. He's purchased, for $100, by a vegan physical therapist who starts causing real problems for Mowgli when she and Andy start having some very energetic sex. But Andy doesn't really love her, he's just terrified of not being in a relationship. Something shared by almost everyone in the film.

The dogs may be in obedience school (and some of the comedic highlights come from their instructor who firmly believes dogs are better than children) but it's the owners who need training. They lack any self control and are driven by their passions and fears.

Of course, we all know how a romantic comedy like this ends, but it is fun getting there. The dogs are cute, the relationships close to real, and the dialogue reasonable. If you liked movies like Ed's Next Move, you'll love this.

    --
    Allan Jenoff
    Check out my web page at http://www.interlog.com/~jenoff/

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