A Dog Year

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User Ratings: 450

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A Dog Year Photos

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Movie Info

A writer in the midst of an existential crisis finds his life transformed after adopting an abused border collie in this emotionally uplifting comedy. Based on author Jon Katz's best-selling memoir of the same name, A Dog Year opens to find the writer at an emotionally precarious stage in his life. The proud owner of two laid back Labrador Retrievers, Jon (Bridges) finds his staid existence shaken up as the twitchy new companion proves much more than a handful. Later, as Jon struggles to overcome a bad case of writer's block, his daughter Emma (Lauren Ambrose) returns home from college for a visit, and him know exactly how much she disapproves of his current living conditions. Finally inspired to make a change for the better, Jon relocates to a quiet farmhouse and seeks out the help of a compassionate dog trainer (Lois Smith), whose patience and insight help to improve not only the condition the traumatized dog, but the outlook of its troubled owner as well.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Comedy, Drama
Directed By:

George LaVoo
Written By:

George LaVoo
In Theaters:

Sep 3, 2009 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Dec 7, 2010
Runtime:

80 minutes
Studio:

Picturehouse

Cast

Jeff Bridges
as Jon Katz

Lauren Ambrose
as Emma

Lois Smith
as Lois

Welker White
as Brenda King

Domhnall Gleeson
as Anthony Armstrong

Amelia Campbell
as Sandra Zeller

Loyd Catlett
as Gary

Jan Leslie Harding
as Nancy Longhetti

Michael Heintzman
as Jeff Clement

William Hill
as Ernie

Josh Liveright
as Billy

Elizabeth Marvel
as Margo

Deirdre O'Connell
as Donna Brady

Pamela Stewart
as Patti

Leo Trombetta
as Richard

Ptolemy Slocum
as Larry

Manish Baliga
as Airport Manager

Lindsay Brice
as Nosy Neighbor

Glenn Kessler
as Airport Policeman #1

Bernadette Quigley
as Busybody Woman

Myra Lucretia-Taylor
as Baggage Claim Girl

Ben Van Bergen
as Police Officer #1

Teresa Yenque
as Hispanic Woman

View All

Critic Reviews for A Dog Year

All Critics (1) | Fresh (1)

An okay presentation of an okay picture featuring a characteristically appealing Jeff Bridges performance.

Dec 10, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…

Chuck Bowen
Slant Magazine

View All Critic Reviews (1)

Audience Reviews for A Dog Year

Nov 26, 2011

I love movies involving dogs and animals, but somehow this one wasn't as great as I anticipated. It seemed too short and didn't get very involved. I love the dogs in it though - they are adorable!

Sarah P Super Reviewer
Feb 21, 2011

Jeff Bridges plays an author who we get to know over a period of a year. We don't know a lot about his background going in, but it's clear that he his not exactly a people person. He adopts a border collie...and while trying to understand the dog, he starts to get a better grip on his own life. Nothing earth shattering here, just a nice decent movie.

Cynthia S Super Reviewer
Jan 08, 2011

Cute film, but could have been much better. I was surprised by the short running time for the movie. I thought it could have been 15 or 20 minutes longer. It needed a rewrite. It isn't as good as films like Marley and Me and Turner and Hootch. Jeff Bridges does an ok job in the film.

Sol C Super Reviewer
Sep 14, 2009

Simple, feel-good movie.

Ed K Super Reviewer