A dog finds the meaning of his own existence through the lives of the humans he meets.
The passing of a pet is, in any case, traumatic. Losing a member of the family is hard and is something no one would choose to endure over and over again. “A Dog’s Journey” forgets this sentiment and uses it as a plot point so many times one may become numb to the feeling after the second or third time of it happening.
This is Bailey’s story, the dog, which is being reincarnated to protect someone close to him. In the first film, “A Dog’s Purpose,” it was to protect a character named Ethan. This time around, its Ethan’s granddaughter, CJ who has lost her father and is losing her mother to alcoholism. The movie is divided into sections using every death and reincarnation and fuel to push the story forward. Bailey passes four times in this movie and that is four times you have to watch, stomach-turning, as Bailey’s life ends and you hope he’ll return. There are no doubt great performances here. Dennis Quaid and Marg Helgenberger give us great scenes as CJ’s grandparents and there are points in the film which provides a look inside of things like loss and alcoholism which is brought forth by Betty Gilpin playing CJ’s mother, Gloria which could really resonate with the audience.
This film is filled with great ideas, from love and loss to parenthood but its all looked over. It’s all overshadowed by the wait for Bailey’s passing. When he is reincarnated, will the characters that you invested so much time into still be there? Will they still be alive? It is frustrating, honestly. A film like this could be so much more. Our bond with animals, especially dogs, leave us open and this film, in an uncreative and cheap way, plays on that.
Now available on Digital HD and on Blu-ray & DVD August 20th
