The Dog Problem Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES PLOT SUMMARY
In L.A., Solo has writer's block after a successful first book he's ashamed of. He's broke, thanks to a year in analysis; in their final session, his shrink suggests a pet. Solo buys a scrawny terrier who adds to his problems: the dog isn't house-trained; Solo owes money to a thug who's angry Solo's spent money on a dog; at a dog park, the dog is bitten and Solo begs a woman he's just met to pay the vet bill, so now he owes her; and, his friend Casper has introduced him to a persistent rich girl who decides she wants the dog. He could sell, settle his debts, and return to life with a clean carpet. Or, he could figure out why he doesn't want to part with the dog.
| Lynn Collins | Lola |
| Scott Caan | Casper |
| Kevin Corrigan | Benny |
| Sarah Shahi | Candy |
| Tito Ortiz | Frank |
| Kimo Leopoldo | Ted |
| Brian Goodman | Joe the Guard |
| Jennifer Carpenter | Redheaded Waitress |
| Laura Katz | Late Night Waitress |
| Joanna Krupa | Taffy |
| Crispian Belfrage | Jeffrey the Butler |
| Med Abrous | Brad |
| Melissa Keller | Escalator Girl |
| Elizabeth Carey | Angry Ketchup Waitress |
| Jimmy the Dog | Spot |
| Scott Caan |
6.40 out of 10 (1285 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Absolutely brilliant work
posted on 19 Jun 2009If I had kept the reviews and comments in mind, I would've never rented this film, but I went with my gut and the fact that Ribisi is amazing and am so impressed with this movie. I loved this movie so much I'm bothering to leave a comment which in itself, for me, is unusual.This sweet, poignant, simple, and heartbreakingly realistic movie is about a man who buys a dog at the advice of a therapist to improve his life. That's the straight-forward surface story. But as the story progresses, you really start to realize and appreciate the massive similarities between the dog and the main character, and the plight the dog and the emotional growth of the man. No matter what the movie is about or how far-out it is, it should connect with the viewer emotionally, be so realistic to everyday feelings it's scary, make you view you own personal life in a more open-minded revelatory way, and make you consider what life is all about. This is definitely one of those movies.Based on other reviews and comments, this movie isn't for everyone's tastes. But to me, this is the kind of movie that makes the hundred other semi-interesting but ultimately disappointing movies viewed before it pale in comparison. It's a gem that makes you happy you saw it. It was absolutely brilliant and I loved it.
Man meets dog and is never the same.
posted on 15 Jun 2009I saw this at the Toronto Film Festival. Solo (Giovanni Ribisi) spends a fortune going to his psychiatrist (Don Cheadle) and then runs out of money ... so his psychiatrist suggests he get a pet ... the funniest looking dog ... and then his dog meets another dog and he meets another dog owner, a stripper (Lynn Collins) with a huge loaner dog who takes a bite out of Solo's much smaller pet. But he has no money to pay for the vet ... complications (and romantic situations) ensue when he borrows money from the stripper ... there are very funny "silent" bits in the movie which comment on modern life in the city ... I enjoyed it a lot ... besides being funny, the subtext about relationships made it touching as well ... It reminded me of a Woody Allen movie -- Ribisi plays it just as deadpan. The theatre was full of other people who seemed to be laughing along with me. There was a very funny Q & A with Scott Caan and Geovanni Ribisi which followed the film and may have skewed my enjoyment. What follows is not my writing but I agreed with the writeup they put in the TIFF film book: "Ribisi is sympathetic as a man whose inner disorder meets his outer chaos at a pivotal point in his life, and Collins, perhaps best- known for her stellar turn as Portia in The Merchant of Venice, provides Lola with such three- dimensional texture that we long to be her friend. As Casper, Caan provides an antic counterpoint to Solo's ennui and, as director of this delightful film, he sends a sweetly funny love note to his home, the city of Los Angeles." -- Jane Schoettle
Romantic? Hardly. Comedy? If you say so.
posted on 17 Mar 2009Let me start by saying I don't recall laughing once during this comedy. From the opening scene, our protagonist Solo (Giovanni Ribisi) shows himself to be a self-absorbed, feeble, and neurotic loser completely unable to cope with the smallest responsibilities such as balancing a checkbook, keeping his word, or forming a coherent thought. I guess we're supposed to be drawn to his fragile vulnerability and cheer him on through the process of clawing his way out of a deep depression. I guess we're supposed to sympathize as he stumbles through a series of misadventures seemingly triggered by his purchase of a dog, but in reality brought on by his own contemptible nature. I didn't get the slightest hint at any point that Solo ever possessed any redeeming character, which became disturbingly apparent when he failed to feed his dog for a few days. No spark of humanity or glimmer of conscience gave me hope that he would ever realize his life is so utterly miserable because he's a self- absorbed, self-pitying lowlife. I didn't develop any connection with this character. He didn't seem to care, and so neither did I. I actually wanted him to get his kneecaps busted at one point.The dog was not a character in the film. It was simply a prop to be used, neglected, scorned, abused, coveted and disposed of on a whim. So be warned. Even though "dog" is in the title, this film is not a romantic comedy for dog lovers.Scott Caan's role is amusing and believable as the oversexed best friend/cad. Don Cheadle is sincere and magnetic - I always want to see more of him on screen. Mena Suvari was delightfully repellent. Lynn Collins role of a "stripper with a heart" was well acted, but the character was simultaneously absurd and clichéd, not to mention there was zero chemistry between her and Ribisi.Romantic? Hardly. Comedy? If you say so.
What a total waste of time!!
posted on 13 Mar 2009Maybe we Aussies just have a totally different sense of humour and therein my lie the only problem here. I have a database of all the DVDs I own (including those received as gifts - which this was) and so, when entering a new one, I always refer to IMDb for such info as genre, runtime, director, leads etc. When entering this, I noted that it was a comedy and so I decided to watch it at a time when I wanted something light and a good laugh. Well, it was neither! There were absolutely NO laughs at all and an inordinate amount of gratuitous profanity (are there REALLY radio announcers allowed to broadcast the sort of filth that Steve Jones dishes out? What if a decent child happened to tune to his station?).Rather than enjoy a good laugh (or even a little giggle) I found the whole thing thoroughly depressing. I have given it 3 out of 10 but, to be honest, I don't know what those 3 are for! I suppose the basics of lighting and sound weren't too bad! We have an ostensibly stone-broke loser (Giovanni Ribisi) who still seems to be able to drive a reasonable car (who pays for the fuel?) and live in what could be a nice apartment (who pays his rent?) Given the opportunity of forming what might have been some sort of meaningful relationship with what turned out to be a nice girl, he even blew that! Perhaps it was she (Lynn Collins) who earned this movie the 3 points! The fact that she works as a stripper rather than a hairdresser is one of the few aspects of this movie that makes sense ("I make as much in one night doing this as I do in two weeks' hairdressing").Unless you want to get depressed and bored to the teeth, forget it!
looking for line
posted on 03 Mar 2009Through out the movie the line life is a delicate negotiation is said. At the end of the movie it is said one last time. What are the lines he says just before he says "life is a delicate negotiation" at the end of the movie? Now other than that I feel this is an excellent movie. I am not much of a writer and I am definitely not one to seriously psychoanalyze a movie. For me that takes away from the movie. So if you want to see a great movie and it is definitely a what I would call a feel good comedy then watch it. I just happened to catch it on one of the movie channels and I would definitely watch it again. So there you are my take on the movie and like I said I am not much of a writer.
Simple yet Entertaining, Very Underrated Film.
posted on 24 Jan 2009Just roaming through the comedy section of a local blockbuster and picking out random films, mostly films I've never heard or seen. "The Dog Problem" was one of them. 15 minutes into the film and im thoroughly entertained. The acting is good, Dialogue is hilarious, and the plot is simple but yet interesting. I will say that Giovanni Ribisi is really underrated as an actor. He makes it look effortless. The same goes with Scott Caan on his Directing/Acting. "The Dog Problem" is an intelligent comedy. Very underrated. With this i look forward to more of Scott Caan's work.7.4/10
Lost Dog Story
posted on 02 Oct 2008This must rate with the worst films I have ever seen. It just wasn't funny. My wife fell asleep. I suppose if you are the sort of person who goes all gooey eyed at the sight of a dog then it may do something for you. If you expect a comedy film to have some humour in it then you will be disappointed unless you find an English radio announcer saying the f word a lot hilarious. The strippers in the club kept their underwear on so there wasn't even a bit of nudity to relieve the boredom. What did happen in the strip club made no sense at all. There was a great deal of mumbling by the lead character with whom I developed no sympathy at all. Mena Suvari was hardly in the film, presumably just there to make people think it was a serious attempt at producing a film. The bad guys were unconvincing and carried as much menace as a dead sheep.
A Cult Film In The Making
posted on 16 Jul 2008I saw this movie on a whim: I love dogs, and Giovanni Ribisi. So sue me. Am I wrong? What I saw, I absolutely loved. Scott Caan, writer/director/actor of (& in) this film is plainly a wunderkind of the highest order. "The Dog Problem" is a truly unique movie. It is, in fact, a work of art. The story is of a troubled fellow who adopts a dog in hopes of coming to grips with, and healing, his own life. The actors give it their all. The cinematographer paints some of the most glorious picture I've ever seen. The writer/director has created one of the funniest, quirkiest, warmest stories I've ever had the pleasure to behold. This is a movie to watch again and again and again...
Does not get much better than this
posted on 25 May 2008The Dog Problem is a smart love story of sorts with prefect comedy timing. I was overwhelmed on how excellent on every level this movie was. Scott Caan was already a proved actor. The Dog Problem showed his talents as not only a writer but a director to boot. Brilliant work! How does a gem of a movie like this with a talented everything fly under the radar of Hollywood? This movie is far superior to 90% of movies shown in theaters. The dog Spot was a scene stealer. The part of Spot walking with that song nobody walks in LA was funny. Scott Caan the story simple. Too many movies try to do too much. This a must see.
Man's best friend
posted on 29 Feb 2008Solo, a depressed young writer, is told by his analyst to get a dog; this way, he will not feel as lonely. Little does he know that everyone he meets wants to have the dog! Solo's life in Los Angeles is dull up until the time he decides to buy the dog in a shopping mall. Solo is not prepared for the work and the responsibility of owning a puppy, let alone trying to keep it to himself.This dark comedy was written and directed, as well as acted by Scott Caan. We were impressed by his "Dallas 362", his debut as a director. "The Dog Problem" shows a talented Scott Caan who no doubt will go to do better things, although this is not a movie for everyone since the material will be enjoyed by some audiences and hated by others.The best thing in the picture is, without a doubt, Giovanni Ribisi, who runs away with it. This actor keeps surprising us. He is not exactly a matinée idol, yet, he is always an interesting figure in any film in which participates. Scott Caan has a small role as a photographer. Lynn Collins, Mena Suvari, and the excellent Kevin Corrigan, are seen in minor roles.
Cleaver Dog headlines new movie
posted on 05 Dec 2007The Dog problem.. Have seen it twice. A nice break from serious Action flicks, or somber dramas. Its light, cleaver, fun to watch, and I felt like I'd met some of the characters in real life. Just an odd mix of misfit people stumbling through life... Incomplete closures, partial answers, and in so many ways a caricature of life.The pseudo Rorschach inkblot test-like opening credits are brilliantly on theme, and the music from former Devo man, Mark Mothersbaugh, is icing on the cake.Giovani Rabisi shines as an oddball self analytic writer who doesn't quite know what to do with himself, or anyone else. Don Cheadle is always fun to watch, and the dog is cool, playing his role very understated, look for him as feature player in his own movies soon.Kudos to Scott Caan.
Almost made it
posted on 03 Dec 2007Intriguing, and more importantly, believable dialog is the hallmark of this underrated film. I only learned after seeing this on TV that the writer was the Scott Cain, son of Michael, who played the hip photographer who was the buddy of the awkward introspective main character Solo, played by Giovanni Ribisi.The two, with their different personalities, still conveyed a genuine connection that was the sustaining thread of this pastiche of screwball comedy and character exploration. Solo is introduced having his last session with his shrink, depicted Don Cheadle.He follows up on the Doc's suggestion to get a dog and then begins the interplay of goons, ultra rich heiress, more goons, threats, strippers....all amazingly entertaining.And then there's the dog, credited in the film as "Jimmy the Dog" who plays his part with aplomb and deeply felt affection. His main function is to allow Solo and his romantic interest, Lola, to "meet cute" and form their own connection.-a bit of spoiler here, beware- Now, we are back to the writer, Scott Cain. I suspect that as he was dong the final edit it hit him, " This is a friggen Disney movie. I can't let it end, you know, Happy. That will never do." So, by destroying what we came to expect, and deserve, a Hollywood ending, he betrayed the essence of the story.So, this is my caveat to achieve my 9 stars. When Solo is in his new Hotel Room let's make our own ending. The hell with Scott's screenplay. Let that knock on the door be Lola with a heartfelt demand that they not throw away this chance for happiness, that they make a life, the three of them together.And then flash back in your mind to every movie that left you feeling good in spite of those tears in your eyes. Then, by this minor collaboration, we have one great film.
Decent, but really just because of Ribisi.
posted on 20 Jul 2007I've always felt that Giovanni Ribisi is the most underused (along with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Zooey Deschanel) and one of the most talented actors working today. Further proof of that is his fantastic performance in this light-hearted, mediocre independent comedy directed and written by Scott Caan. The film centers around a broke, self-centered and hopelessly depressed writer named Solo (Giovanni) who after a year of seeing a therapist (Don Cheadle) five days a week decides to get a dog. Getting this dog begins a wild adventure that involves his best friend (played by Caan), a stripper whom he grows a strong affection for (Lynn Collins), her friend (the criminally underused Sarah Shahi), a gangster whom he owes money to (Kevin Corrigan) and a spoiled rich girl straight out of My Super Sweet 16 (Mena Suvari).It's a fun film about the true wealth of finding love with some genuinely hilarious scenes scattered throughout. I've never liked Scott Caan as an actor; I always find him playing the same arrogant, dirtbag character and I really don't like his sense of humor so that didn't help me in trying to enjoy the film. Also, while the subplots with the gangster (who we never find out how he got connected to Solo or why Solo owes him money) and the spoiled girl offer some great opportunities for Giovanni to show off his comedic talent, their appearance in the film ultimately feels like pointless filler. But the film manages to succeed due to the great work by the always underrated Giovanni Ribisi who adds so much charm, quirk and hilarity to every film he's in that it's impossible not to love him and it is pretty entertaining throughout.
Really amazing job ... Really amazing but simple as possible story ....
posted on 18 Jul 2007If you are looking for drama - don't watch it ! If you are looking for comedy - don't watch it ! If you are looking for answers - don't watch it ! If you're looking for a mix of all of them - there is a shoot into 10. one from my personal best movies now - definitely worth to be watched and ... think . 10/10 - no more words . There is a really simple story about trust , love , lost of hope , searching yourself - without the answers , without guidelines - simple story , with simple people . Great screenplay with great acting will really cool you down , and maybe you will start to think about really important things in your life . Don't expect a spectacular moments , most of the film this a talking only - but ... great taling , great acting . Real fun to watch that somebody can collect all my feeling in one movie .
Canine Buddy Flick
posted on 06 Jul 2007This indie movie, about as deep as a puddle, is quite entertaining. Good dialog by Scott Cann and a "spot-on" cast led by Giovanni Ribisi carry the weight. Credit Ribisi with a deft comedic characterization of a mentally brittle writer, named Solo, on the brink of a meltdown.Solo has spent the last year in therapy five days a week with his doctor (played by Don Cheadle). He informs the doctor that since he is totally broke he is ready to face the world again. Since the doctor knows that isn't possible he decides to force him to face up to a measure of responsibility, albeit on a smaller scale: He suggests that Solo should get a pet.Solo and his skirt chasing photographer friend, Casper played by director/writer Scott Cann, go shopping for a dog. Just as they approach the pet store Casper has to chase a young woman that smiles his way...Leaving Solo to choose his pet, well solo. The "mutt" he chooses is the type no self respecting male would ever be seen with, let alone purchase. Since Solo is basking in his own mental pathos, unable to take charge of himself, the addition of this totally dependent dog is about to make things much worse.Fun, though unlikely characters intersect through the mess that Solo and "dog" create. Strangely, when he thinks his dog has been kidnapped Solo quits being passive. He becomes decisive and is able to shed his "victim mentality". Throughout the movie he has always been co-dependent on something...his doctor at first and then the dog last. Near the end, after he's found the lost dog, he knows what he now has to do in order to be heal. He has to get back to his love which is writing. Though he wants a relationship with Lola, a stripper he finds to be anything but the stereotypical whore he imagines a stripper must be, he knows that like a recovering addict he's not ready. This is another sign that he's finished with co-dependency. When he stops to tell Lola he is leaving for Mexico he offers her "Spot" which is the name he finally gave the dog. Bittersweet, she accepts the dog and they part. A final shot shows Solo, seemingly happy living in a cheap Mexican motel because he's found his muse once more. He is just outside the doorway because he heard something. As he looks down he sees "Spot" who like his master has found his way home. Great ending to a silly shallow entertaining movie. My only question is did Spot get there on his own or is Lola there too?!
Indiegood (bad pun, I know).
posted on 10 Jun 2007Giovanni Ribisi should be well-known as a character actor by now, I'm not too certain his take on popular-consciousness. He is, however, very good at what he does, and the movies he's in are marked by low-budget storytelling (some call it "Indiewood") that focuses on character and dialog-driven writing rather than large-budget genre creations of the mainstream or thematic art-house sensibilities. Because of this, the types of films he's in are never really for a very big audience: they don't attract key demographics, they don't interest avant-gardists, they don't create international followings, they just sort of exist as nice stories. Thus, they're very hard to recommend because they don't technically offer anything new and they don't offer spectacle, and for that, "Indiewood" gets a lot of criticism. However, I think that these films need to be taken as they come, not as a movement itself, because honestly they are the pared-down narrative style which means it's the story itself that matters, not the relationship it has with the consumer.Ribisi plays a neurotic writer (think Woody Allen without trying to be Woody Allen) who, through a hint of his therapist, gets a dog. He hardly has time to figure out what owning a dog entails before people start asking him for it, and slowly he finds he has to defend himself and the dog from the onslaught, finding a girl and a life in the process.I like it because it has this continuous theme of names in it (the dog's name, people's first names, stripper names, etc.) and because it has a pretty concise approach to showing how each person is really just looking for love, which for some reason the ugly mutt represents to all of them. I think that a general audience looking for small-budget character-driven films would really like it. It also has a lot of witty, quotable dialog which, if this movie was bigger or more popular, would give it something like a "Napoleon Dynamite" status." --PolarisDiB
Maybe you're looking too deep
posted on 05 May 2007Yes if you want to over-analyze the movie components a lot of your dis-mantling can be viewed as true...but if you just sit back and let the movie take you for it's ride, the over-all result is an enjoyable watch, which for me is what movies are about...not that they are technically sound in every category of screenplay writing technique...I enjoyed its whimsical theme, and light hearted flow it maintained throughout. I feel it was written more for steady amusement...and quirky chuckles than to to garner huge laughs...sometimes its cool to enjoy a movie from start to finish, when it keeps your attention and keeps you smiling....~Jon
No Dog
posted on 25 Apr 2007I've been following Giovanni Ribisi's career since the 80s because I love character actors and this guy has always been a great character actor and I came across The Dog Problem in the cable listings and thought: "Giovanni Ribisi in a lead role?" Now I gotta wonder why no one has cast him in a lead before this? Anyway, see this movie! It's one of those great little films you'll never forget and everybody in it is fantastic and Scott Caan (who wrote and directed and co-stars) made all the right choices here. (Mark Mothersbaugh does the music and Phil Parmet shot it - that didn't hurt either.) Trust me, this movie is no dog!
Very Well Played
posted on 08 Dec 2006Oh man. The acting in this film is very good. The story would probably not look so good on paper. This film tried to take a turn into a suckfest about twenty times, and every time it tried, it failed. It was a truly touching story, and it had a wonderful, understated sense of humor that was a joy to watch.I can understand a lot of people not getting this film. It doesn't hit you over the head with a message, but the message is there, loud and clear. It doesn't blow you away with funny scenes and gut wrenching jokes, but when it's funny, it is delightfully so.The direction is lovely. It is straightforward enough that you don't notice it, and believe me, that is a sign that a director knows what he's doing. It's not workmanlike, or ordinary. It's quite artistic! But it's not artistic in a pretentious way. It complements the story.The film has a message, as I said before, and I can tell you what that message is.Of course, I'm not going to. Watch the film to see what happens, digest it, and then watch it again to enjoy its nuances.
lower half of a double bill film one could easily walk out of.
posted on 08 Aug 2009I realize the line on my summary is not too polite.This film written & directed by Scott Caan & starring Giovanni Ribisi,Don Cheadle & himself runs a long 88 minutes.There is a dog in this puppy of a movie., he is cute.The movie opened in 2 U.S. theatres in late April 2007,for one week & grossed all of $ 914. It quickly went to DVD in early August 2007.We were only able to take about 40 minutes before we turned the DVD off.This was the type of movie that played on lower half of double bill. You saw the main film & figured lets see what this one is like, You might have walked out before we shut it off.The 3 actors & the young ladies in the film all have done & deserve better than this..Ratings: ** (out of 4) 54 points (out of 100) IMDb 4 (out of 10_