Molly Shannon takes a stab at serious acting with her role in Year of the Dog, and although it is commendable for her to take the risk of not relying on laughter, the movie was a little too far left than audiences would probably enjoy.
The movie is marketed as a dark comedy, but there is much more darkness than comedy. Shannon is deep into her character, but viewers may spend the entire film waiting (to no avail) for her trademark humor and physical comedy.
In what others would consider a lonely and pathetic existence, Peggy’s life revolves around the life of her dog and is oblivious to need for deep human connection. When her life’s ecosystem suddenly changes, she enters a tailspin and is forced out of her comfort zone. But instead of ride the wave and by doing so she further dedicates her time and resources towards her passion for animals. Just as Peggy embraces the changes in her life, she is once again faced with personal crisis.
The good thing about this film is that the screenwriter, director and actors took serious risks in bucking the tradition of mainstream Hollywood. Shannon absorbs her character completely and is excellent at playing it straight. But, there is not enough within the confines of the script to give audiences something to which they can relate to because her experiences would rarely trigger the same response that Peggy presents in the film. Even though it is obvious from the onset of the film that Peggy is not “normal”, more ordinary responses to situations would have allow viewers to invest in the sequences within the film.
Regina King also stars as an unlikely acquaintance for the animal obsessed and subliminally lonely Peggy. They are an odd couple indeed, but their chemistry somehow works. And the pairing of these two reminds people of the bonds that are often shared between the unexpected. Other cast members for Year of the Dog include John C. Reilly and Laura Dern.
This movie does an excellent job of conveying just how self-absorbed individuals can be to what’s going on around them due to lack of concern and compassion. But the lack of overt comedy and believable motives and actions from the lead character may leave more to be desired from viewers.
Year of the Dog opens in theatres nationwide on Friday, Apr. 27th.
