Watch Year of the Dog

Year of the Dog is a 2007 dramedy film directed by Mike White and starring Molly Shannon, John C. Reilly, and Peter Sarsgaard. The movie follows Peggy, a single woman who lives with her beloved dog, Pencil. After Pencil passes away, Peggy goes through an emotional journey looking for a new identity and purpose. Peggy is an administrative assistant at a company where her best friend, Layla, works as a receptionist. Her life revolves around Pencil until he suddenly dies unexpectedly. She is left shattered and unable to move on. As a result, Peggy starts behaving in unpredictable ways, much to the concern of her friends and colleagues. She becomes increasingly obsessed with animal rights, vegetarianism, and rescuing dogs from shelters.

Her family and friends don't necessarily understand or support her newfound path, and Peggy finds herself feeling alone in her newfound passion. She develops a friendship with a veterinarian, Robin, who becomes a romantic interest. However, their connection is cut short as Robin is homosexual, which puts a strain on their friendship.

Over time, Peggy becomes more and more radical in her beliefs and takes her activism too far. She copes with her death of her dog by going to extreme lengths to rescue dogs and having problems with her job.

Molly Shannon gives a heartfelt performance in the leading role, portraying Peggy's grief and complex range of emotions with ease. She brings humor and vulnerability to the character, making her relatable to the audience.

The supporting cast is also strong, with John C. Reilly playing Peggy's colleague and potential love interest, and Peter Sarsgaard voicing amusing commentary as the voice of her dog, Pencil. Regina King, Laura Dern, Josh Pais, and Thomas McCarthy round out the cast as Peggy's family and friends.

The movie's themes are centered around love, loss, and finding one's identity. It is a heartfelt exploration of the processes of grief and how humans cope with loss. The plot is well-paced, with White's screenplay masterfully incorporating humor, pathos, and drama in a way that never feels out of place.

Year of the Dog is a unique film that tackles the human-animal bond and the unexpected ways our pets influence our lives. It's a thought-provoking movie that may prompt viewers to re-evaluate their attitudes towards animals, as well as their own lives.

Overall, Year of the Dog is a well-acted and beautifully executed film that is highly recommended to anyone who loves animals and is looking for a heartfelt exploration of the processes of grief and self-discovery.

Year of the Dog is a 2007 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 70.