Clackamas, Vancouver.Ĭritic's Rating: F Gold isn't so much a rags-to-riches story as a rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-domestic-abuse-to-riches story. Whether continually misidentifying the nature of viral video or blithely accepting the three-decade age gap separating our romantic leads, the film betrays a sloppiness and blinkered entitlement bordering on the toxic. To be fair, no delivery could sell this dreary succession of cringe-worthy routines, and any punch lines that do crawl forth are abandoned to die by Taylor Hackford's stunningly clumsy direction. Whatever easy rapport shines through scenes talking up a lovely "volunteer" (Leslie Mann) amid court-mandated community service, all charm curdles the moment he takes the mic. There's a reason De Niro's funniest films left the gags to Charles Grodin or Billy Crystal-both cameo here-while asking their putative star to glower humorlessly. The only problem is, no one questioned our titular comedian's absolute inability to tell a joke. While still finishing his 2011 screenplay about a fading TV icon's return to the comedy-club circuit, legendary producer Art Linson enlisted Robert De Niro for the central role of quick-tempered, two-fisted, living anachronism Jackie Burke. Bridgeport, Cedar Hills, City Center, Clackamas, Division, Eastport, Lloyd, Oak Grove, Pioneer Place, Tigard, Vancouver.Ĭritic's Rating: F As with all the worst jokes, The Comedian took forever to set up and somehow still overlooked one crucial detail. We could argue the film represents an artless waste of resources and brazen manipulation of empty sentiment, but…oooh, who's a good movie? Who's a good movie?! PG-13. Because they're ll-equipped for sentience and inherently disposable, a dog's purpose (or, sure, A Dog's Purpose) should be understood as no more or less than an endlessly looped sales pitch for itself-breathlessly exploiting every inch of adorability to blot critical faculties and fan the sparks of true emotion. Funny thing, repeatedly killing the same dog evades the whiff of Old Yeller morbidity. ![]() A string of deaths soon follow-a '70s Chicago police dog, a beloved corgi for an '80s Atlanta buppie brood. ![]() And, pretty quickly, Bailey mopes himself to death. ![]() ![]() For its first hour, the film relishes the widescreen delight of golden retriever Bailey (voiced by Josh Gad) soaring through acres of wheat or cataloging each smell at the carnival until little Ethan abandons him for his own off-screen incredible journey: go to college, save the farm, become Dennis Quaid. Though the surprisingly engaging Lasse Hallstrom fable deserves full support from its presumable target audience, A Dog's Purpose has little interest in flattering owners. Since allegations had been largely discredited within a few days, curious pet folk were not forced to confront ethical struggles when attending, for better or worse. Critic's Rating: B+ All things considered, given the potential harm that could easily have followed initial news stories threatening charges of on-set animal abuse days before the film's scheduled rollout, A Dog's Purpose largely escaped the neg press blitz with ticket sales approaching early projections and an opening weekend tied atop the box-office charts.
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