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Movies / On DVD / Sleeping Dogs Lie
Sleeping Dogs Lie

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Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006)

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Reviews Counted:50

Fresh:32

Rotten:18

Average Rating:6.1/10

Consensus: Though Sleeping Dogs Lie treats its subject and characters humanely, it's unable to overcome the low-budget production and Bobcat Goldthwait's pedestrian directing.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for strong and aberrant sexual content, drug use and language.

Runtime: 89 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Oct 20, 2006 Limited

Synopsis: Bobcat Goldthwait, the frantic, shrieking comedian who gained fame in several POLICE ACADEMY films, follows up his debut feature as a writer-director--1992's SHAKES THE CLOWN--with SLEEPING DOGS... Bobcat Goldthwait, the frantic, shrieking comedian who gained fame in several POLICE ACADEMY films, follows up his debut feature as a writer-director--1992's SHAKES THE CLOWN--with SLEEPING DOGS LIE, a surprisingly tender romantic black comedy. Melinda Page Hamilton gives a terrific lead performance as Amy, a young woman with a deep, dark secret, something very stupid that she did in college. Eight years later, as her relationship with John (Bryce Johnson) intensifies, she considers telling him what she did, as he believes in total honesty. When she finally does, her entire world comes crashing down. Her rather strange mother (a very funny Bonita Friedericy) and hunk of a father (Geoff Pierson) won't speak to her; her drug-addicted loser of a brother, Dougie (Jack Plotnick), revels in her failure and agony; and John is not sure he can spend the rest of his life with someone who has committed such an outrageous act, even if it was a silly mistake that she regrets. Amy, a teacher, finds solace in Ed (Colby French), a coworker going through his own marital problems, but everyone else has abandoned her. Goldthwait has written and directed a very funny, very poignant film, one that looks seriously at the meaning and importance of truth and honesty--and when it is okay to keep some things to oneself. The supporting cast is excellent, including a wry turn by comedian Brian Posehn as Randy, Dougie's drug-addled dealer, who has a crush on Amy. The soundtrack features "You Got It" by Roy Orbison, who actually figures prominently in the rather twisted but charming plot. [More]

Starring: Melinda Page Hamilton, Bryce Johnson, Geoffrey Pierson, Colby French

Starring: Melinda Page Hamilton, Bryce Johnson, Geoffrey Pierson, Colby French, Jack Plotnick, Bonita Friedericy, Brian Posehn, Morgan Murphy, Steve Agee

Director: Bob Goldthwait

Director: Bob Goldthwait
Producer: Marty Pasetta Jr.
Composer: Gerald Brunskill
Studio: IDP Distribution

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Release:

Apr 10, 2007

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Reviews for Sleeping Dogs Lie

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
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Despite being thin on laughs and light on conventional romance, Sleeping Dogs manages to be both warm and witty.

comment Comment
03/16/07
Little White Lies

This low-budget comedy-drama may not have the glossiest of coats, but nor is it the dog you might be expecting.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
03/16/07
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Channel 4 Film

Not a great film but a darn interesting one, Sleeping Dogs Lie is also probably the most discreet of this season's outrageous sex movies.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
10/20/06
Bob Strauss
Bob Strauss
Los Angeles Daily News

John Waters Meets "Sleepless in Seattle" in this sweet, at-times "tasteless" comic concoction about romance, reputation, the need to confess, and the yearning of society to pigeonhole everyone with a one-dimensional label.

Full Review Source: New York Theatre Wire | comment Comment
08/25/06
Brandon Judell
Brandon Judell
New York Theatre Wire

There's an ingratiatingly quirky spirit which keeps bubbling up in Sleeping Dogs Lie and merrily propels it along

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
David Noh
David Noh
Film Journal International

...ultimately an emotionally affecting and thoroughly accomplished piece of work...

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
02/28/08
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

A warm, mature, thought-provoking film that is, at times, surreal, often hilarious and ultimately very touching. Nice one, Bobcat.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
10/30/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out

We can hear the French barking "auteur" already... Beneath the profanely preposterous premise, Stay is a rather sweet and conventional love story that perambulates around the notions of trust and acceptance.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
09/01/06
Duane Byrge
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter

The premise alone is more interesting than 90 percent of what comes out of Hollywood.

Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
02/18/06
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

Hamilton is wonderful as the bruised victim of an oedipal insanity for truth.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
03/16/07
James Christopher
James Christopher
Times [UK]

A bestiality rom-com with unexpected charm. Not quite the dog’s bollocks, but certainly no dog’s dinner either.

Full Review Source: Total Film | comment Comment
03/16/07
Jane Crowther
Jane Crowther
Total Film

A large part of the movie's appeal is Page's ability to make both the entire story believable and her character entirely sympathetic, while Goldthwait muses on the price of absolute honesty with your mate.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
11/03/06
Jane Stevenson
Jane Stevenson
Jam! Movies

Anchored, and essentially redeemed, by a fearless performance from Melinda Page Hamilton.

Full Review Source: MovieMartyr.com | comment Comment
02/15/09
Jeremy Heilman
Jeremy Heilman
MovieMartyr.com

Goldthwait -- his motives always suspect -- has made a very watchable movie out of a very strange subject.

Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
10/19/06
John Anderson
John Anderson
Newsday
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Had me howling with laughter.

Full Review Source: Sun Online | comment Comment
03/16/07
Johnny Vaughan
Johnny Vaughan
Sun Online

Bobcat Goldthwait has produced a flm that understands something about the gulf between what men claim they want from women, and the way they behave when we give it to them.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
02/01/08
Karina Longworth
Karina Longworth
Cinematical

I can't think of another film that so directly and actively tackles the question of the actual value of honesty.

Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) | comment Comment
01/10/07
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Improbably, the movie manages to regroup after its outrageous opening and turn into an unpredictable, almost sweet, romantic comedy about the limits of candour.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
11/03/06
Liam Lacey
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Sleeping Dogs Lie does collar big laughs for anyone who isn't skeeved out by the whole idea.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
10/20/06
Lou Lumenick
Lou Lumenick
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Rather than the escalating gross-out spectacular it could have been, Sleeping Dogs Lie is an unexpectedly thoughtful look at what it takes to make relationships work.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
10/19/06
Mark Olsen
Mark Olsen
Los Angeles Times
 
 
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