SnoopyStyle Jon Katz (Jeff Bridges) is under pressured to write his next book. He's alone with two dogs. His wife has left him and his daughter Emma (Lauren Ambrose) is away at college. A fan sends him a rescue Border Collie named Devon for him to help. Devon has been abused and is unmanageable. Emma returns to find a mess. Devon continues to chase school buses. Jon rents a farmhouse to write in isolation. Local handyman Anthony Armstrong (Domhnall Gleeson) sends him to dog trainer Lois Blair (Lois Smith).This is based on Jon Katz's book about his real life with his rescued border collie. This is a little too bare bones. There isn't any drama. There isn't much story. There is a bit of character but it would be better to fill it out more. This could have given him a scene with his wife at the beginning. This could have given a sense of what he writes about. His scenes with his daughter are great but this needs more.

carpediem21 First off all, I loved this movie. It is just so hard to come by a decent movie in the past few years because almost all of them are filled with sex, violence, killing, drugs, etc. all that corruptness. Movies like this are one in a million among all that crap. So, that is one thing. Then, as an animal lover, this movie won my heart right away. If you have a pet or pets, you know how special a bond there is between you and them. It is love at its purest form and I don't believe it can be achieved between two humans. Jeff Bridges is brilliant as always and he plays a somewhat troubled man, having a writer's block and on a time-out from his wife and daughter. He already has two dogs but then this dog - Devon - enters his life but Devon is an abused dog, so he (Jeff Bridges) has trouble for a long time trying to live with him but he doesn't give up on this dog, he doesn't abandon him. Same rule applies if you wanna get along with an animal or a human: What's important is understanding and accepting each other, instead of forcing your wants and always going "my way". Or, this is me, sorry. No, we gotta learn to bend a little without losing our own identities. And finally, you can watch this one with your kids as there are no sex, violence drugs, etc.

kellwyn86 Jeff bridges : is truly a legend. its a sweet movie about a writer and his dog. enjoyed the movie thoroughly. The movie was simple and straight. Heart warming and happy ending. Must watch for every dog owner. Or any animal owner or animal lover for that matter.This movie is quite informative for inexperienced dog owners. Gives you a gist of how to care for an animal that has been through some trauma or is getting used to a new home. a must watch for every animal lover !

jahredem This past weekend I caught the last 45 minutes or so at the end of this film on HBO, and enjoyed it thoroughly. So its obvious this isn't the kind of film you need to ask the chronology behind the character's behaviors. I waited to catch the rest of it at a later time.Bridges did a terrific job as usual, accurately depicting a disgruntled fifty something with writers block. He's now numb to the yuppie neighborhood/lifestyle he resides. His outlook of life is droll, he has separated from his wife, his undergraduate daughter rarely visits, and he's constantly under his publishing agent's eye. The dog (Devin) comes into Bridge's life when he agrees to one of his reader's pleas to rehabilitate it. Bridges, feeling he has nothing better to do, accepts the task. Devin is a mess but this film doesn't rely on cheap puns/humor and obvious scenarios that "Marley & Me" cranks out(that is if you drop the airport scene). Unlike "Marley", Riley had been an abused dog, he has some real reasons to have such odd behaviors and distrustful actions towards people. Nearing the end, the movie becomes quite touching as the dialogue fades away and the viewer relies on observation to analyze what exactly is going through the pair's minds. They really used each other to escape from depression and intolerance of the lives they have. Just a feel good quiet movie.On a personal note, this is one film I (and many others) can directly relate too. I had the same issues with my dog which i adopted from a humane society. It just so happened to be during a rough period in my life too. Took a very long time for her to warm up enough to feel comfortable around me and others and now she's doing great, she loves being a dog again!