ISLE of DOGS Review — Good Boy, Wes Anderson!

by Hollywood Hound Frankie Feldman

As a furry family family guy who watches many a movie on the couch, I can tell you that the tastiest of all treats, writer/director Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs, could change canine cinema forever. There is no doubt that this fido-licious film, cast almost exclusivly with a historically under-represented minority (mutts) will finally prove that every dog can have his day at the box office.

The stop motion animation had me sitting and staying, riveted throughout, except for the parts where I was howling with laughter. It’s the story of how a pack of scrappy canines in Japan work with a boy to rescue their fellow four-legged residents from Trash Island, where they’ve been banished by government-backed, cat-loving haters on trumped up charges of infecting humans with “dog flu.” As if…

The voice cast is USDA prime, featuring many of my favorite human actors. Of course I was predisposed to love Liev Schrieber, because he’s so kind to that massive Dogo Argentino in Ray Donovan, but I was also in paw of  Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Jeff Goldbloom, Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Bob Balaban, Greta Gerwig, and even Yoko Ono. (But don’t tell my human dad I like Yoko, because as far as he’s concerned, she’s still in the doghouse.)

Although it’s an animated feature, it will take a very mature pup to understand the subtle social and political messages woven in—the young ones might be a bit bored and uncomfortable with the mistreatment of our poor heroes, even though it’s not rubbed in our faces.

You may recall Anderson’s other animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox, which also had a stellar voice cast, including my human mom’s favorite George Clooney. I liked that, but I LOVED Isle of Dogs, because it’s about, well, DOGS!

In summery, I have to say a resounding “Good boy, Wes Anderson!”  Your latest film is better than a trip to the dog park with my BFFs Stuart, Walter, Milo, Ezra and Yoffi. We’ll be barking your praises for a decade of dog years.

Rated PG-12

1 Hour 41 Minutes

Get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

ISLE of DOGS Review

by Hollywood Hound Frankie Feldman

ISLE of DOGS Review

by Hollywood Hound Frankie Feldman