Untitled Document

Firehouse Dog

Directed by Todd Holland

Written by Claire-Dee Lim & Mike Werb

Cast Josh Hutcherson, Bruce Greenwood, Bill Nunn, Scotch Ellis Loring, Mayte Garcia, Teddy Sears, Arwen, Frodo, Rohan, Stryder, Steven Culp, Dash Mihok, Bree Turner, Hannah Lochner, Claudette Mink, Shane Daly, Matt Cooke

Let us understand something right off the bat; Firehouse Dog is a childish, immature film that would appeal mostly to children between 10-12 years of age so what the heck is an adult watching it for? Because sometimes even a 50 year old wants to be 10-12 once more.
And if you don't want to let go of that adult idea of what excitement is, or let go of that analytical mind and just freakin' enjoy something for a couple of hours, get a few laughs and not just goggle at T&A or big explosions, what the heck are you doing watching a film like this anyway?
Firehouse Dog is the latest "Boy meets Dog" effort from Hollywood and it not only meets expectations, it exceeds them. I went to the theater with Mom and Patti on opening day and the auditorium was pretty much filled with parents, children and the few adults who come to these films in secret, hoping that if their more mature friends see them, they can convince them they were there to watch 300 again but just went into the wrong door.
This is a cute film, and yes it does have its share of crude idea and fart jokes. Frankly, I could have lived without Ever seeing a dog poop into a pot of stew. Nevertheless, outside of that the film was a cut above many of the other family films that have been out so far this year.
The film is not just about the boy and his dog, but also about the boy and his father who live in a very strained relationship. Dad is a fireman, and had followed after his older brother who was a Captain. However, due to a serious life-changing event that happened in the recent past there is a lot of tension in the home.
Suddenly, literally out of the sky, into their lives drops this dog. Dirty, smelling of rotten tomatoes but smart as a whip, the dog begins to change the lives of the people around him.
As with many films in this genre, there is a bit of a mystery going on, but most adults will be able to figure out who the bad guy is with very little trouble. It still came as a shock to many of the children in the room, from the gasps of surprise I heard around me.
There were some scenes that seemed 'over-the-top' but as I said, what did you expect?
Me, I liked the film. No, it was not any sort of blockbuster but then I didn't go into it with those sort of expectations. I went in looking for a film that appealed to kids or the 'young at heart' and I think I found it. Intelligently written, with humor, emotion, and a mystery at the same time, not to mention a climax that honestly had me worried for a few minutes; there really isn't that much more I want in most films, certainly not in a film geared toward the age bracket this one was.
While I don't think all films should be 'family films' or even 'family friendly' (I mean, come one. I LOVE a good explosion now and then, and T&A done right can actually add to a film. For adults) but having a movie with language that a parent does not need to cringe when they hear it is a Good thing. And to be honest if a parent does not cringe when they hear most of the language on TV or in the movies, they probably have other problems as well.
Firehouse Dog works to pull you in from the very start, as it introduces its characters and lets you know this will probably be a film that works your emotions. And it works them hard; at some points I laughed so hard my sides hurt while at others, and had -ahem- dust in my eyes.
I love dogs. I think they are among the three smartest creatures on this planet along with horses and dolphins. After that, it is various types of mice, then rats, followed by certain insects and finally, man. Nevertheless, watching this film I worried what would happen if my house were on fire. Would my dogs try to rescue me or just get bar-b-Que sauce?