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12 out of 12 people found the following review useful: Our kind of movie - funny!, 2 January 2003 Author: rebecca short (bold1) from California
We caught this film on cable last week and were shocked. No, not by the title - but how did we not hear about this movie? I'll say upfront, I'm not a Branagh fan, but I do love Robin Wright Penn. But Branagh blew me away with this performance - he's finally been given a great script by someone other than Shakespeare and run with it. The writing is smart and funny, the supporting cast is just terrific, especially the girl playing Amy. When I checked here, I saw the writer/director is the same guy who wrote Private Parts, one of my favorite films.If I try and put my finger on what touched me the most in this movie, I guess it's that the people were all so "real" and so I ended up caring very much what happened to them all. I'd love a sequel to see what happens to them after this episode in their lives!Who should see this film: Everyone who likes smart, funny writing and acting told in an adult way; and anyone who likes something other than the typical Hollywood blockbuster.
12 out of 12 people found the following review useful: We have all faced some of the same problems., 29 October 2001 Author: Hap Trout (HapRay) from Grants Pass, OR
I really had little idea as to what this was going to be, but being a fan of Kenneth Branagh's work, and hearing that is was a bit comedic, I gave it a shot. From the very first minutes of the movie, you know that you are in for "something special". As always, his timing when delivering a humorous line and his adroit methods of playing off a co-star, are in full force here. Robin Wright does an excellent job as his usually ignored wife, and the remainder of the cast, as you will see, was well directed.The "real" standout in this film is the dialogue. The writing is superb...so much so, that I am going to watch it again, to pick up the lines I missed while I was either laughing or savoring an exquisite film moment.He is totally in charge of the role given him here and really does hate the neighbor's dog ( as you would too), but the dog is only a segment of what is a bigger picture of a man fighting his personal torments, and all the while, doing it with a smile.Why there wasn't more publicity about this film is beyond me. If it is to become a "cult" classic, then so be it, but it will definitely become some kind of classic. I have written other comments on this site for movies, and consider myself an "excellent" judge of what entertains and what does not, no matter who is in it, and I heartily recommend that you get a glass of your favorite whatever, and sit back and watch a great movie unfold. I would suggest that you are older than thirty to REALLY have fun with this vehicle.Oh yes, let the credits role after the movie ends....in a few moments there is a scene that you WILL need to see. It's just one...but it's important. Get the popcorn and turn it on. You can thank me later.
8 out of 9 people found the following review useful: Laugh out loud funny!!, 18 September 2000 Author: psuag88 from Philadelphia, PA
I saw this movie at the Toronto International Film Festival and it was the funniest movie I had seen in years. The writing was fantastic and the performances were excellent. Kenneth Branagh's timing of his lines were perfect and the audience (of 2000) were literally laughing so hard we were crying. Definitely thumbs up!!!!A Must see!!
6 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Deserves a general release, 30 April 2001 Author: craigjclark from Haddonfield, NJ
I saw this film over the weekend in the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema and thought it was terrific. Intelligently-written, staggeringly well-directed for someone making his feature film debut, with a game cast of name actors and impressive new faces -- too bad it can't find a proper distributor. It deserves to find a bigger audience (and if given the chance, it would).
8 out of 10 people found the following review useful: There are Rewards to be Found Beyond the Title, 8 September 2002 Author: jhclues from Salem, Oregon
First of all, the biggest obstacle to enjoying and appreciating this movie is the fact that the title alone is going to keep it out of most people's hands. Let's face it, when the average, discerning viewer browsing the local video store shelves comes across one called `How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog,' it immediately gets mentally shuffled into the mindbox right alongside such obtuse fare as the consummately repugnant and forgettable `Surf Nazis Must Die,' (which, by the way, is a title I never thought would issue forth from my fingertips for any reason whatsoever, but it happens to work here) or the likes. I mean, slapping on such a designation is like insisting on a strike three call with the first pitch when you're the batter. Then again, there's that old saying about judging a film by it's cover. Take `Office Space,' for example; who in a million years would have expected something as entertaining and insightful from Mike Judge, the guy who gave the world Beavis and Butthead, for crying out loud? (Still, in retrospect, Beavis and Butthead wasn't half bad...). The point is, writer/director Michael Kalesniko did himself a major disservice with his title, which may have been a shock value attempt to grab some attention that didn't really work out. But if you can overcome what for most will surely be an entirely understandable prejudice against this one, you'll be in for a treat. And in the final analysis, it points up the wisdom of not dismissing any movie out-of-hand.Hollywood denizen Peter McGowan (Kenneth Branagh) is a successful playwright, but in the show biz tradition of `what have you done for me lately?' he is having trouble getting his latest play off to a running start. Rehearsals have begun, but even director Brian Sellars (David Krumholtz) can't seem to find the magic. And poor Peter is experiencing a heavy hit of writer's block that is preventing him from fixing it, and working out of his home doesn't seem to be the answer. Wife Melanie (Robin Wright Penn) is supportive, but they have no children of their own, and pursuant of her natural motherly instincts, she has taken on eight-year-old Amy Walsh (Suzi Hofrichter), daughter of new neighbor and single mom Trina (Lucinda Jenney), to babysit. In addition to which there is a `False Peter' (Jared Harris) roaming about the neighborhood, a fan, apparently, who has taken on Peter's identity, and to top it all off, the neighbor's dog just will not quit barking. Suffice to say Peter is not seeing the world through rose colored glasses these days, but there has to be an answer to his many and myriad dilemmas; now all he has to do is find it.Perhaps sabotaging his own film with a title that instantly relegated it to `cult' status was Kalesniko's way of getting into his alter-ego's skin and exploring Peter's conundrum and his possible reactions. And if such was the case, it worked. Because once you give this film a chance, you'll find that it's funny, poignant and actually filled with some pretty astute insights into and observations of the human condition. This is a black comedy/drama, to be sure, but at the heart of the film there is a dramatic story that will evoke no small amount of empathy and compassion from the audience. Which is to say, with this film you get so much more than what you bargained for; it is decidedly NOT what you're expecting based on the title alone. There are a couple of instances in which Kalesniko succumbs to a bit of unnecessary low-brow humor, but it's not enough to detract from the whole. In the end, this film dips deeply into the pockets of human nature to extract the kind of sentiments (without being sentimental) rarely found in a film of this genre, and it makes a positive and lasting impression.The role of a transplanted Brit insomniac playwright with writer's block must have seemed like a character out of a dream for Kenneth Branagh, who totally immerses himself in Peter and comes up with a winning and memorable portrayal. The character was obviously well written to begin with, but Branagh takes hold of the part and runs with it, making it entirely his own by lending the kind of depth and nuance to it that really brings Peter to life. The development of the character is effected extremely well, too, as initially, Peter is a guy who is not necessarily likable, with quirks and peccadilloes aplenty. But as the story progresses, so does Peter, and there's some tender moments along the way that are quite unexpected, given the attitude and bearing Peter starts out with. And it's the way Branagh brings his character around that makes it work; it evolves rather than coming from a sudden left turn out of nowhere. Peter finally has a `breakthrough,' and it comes from a place that is completely unanticipated. It's a solid performance, and one of the rewards that comes from successfully navigating past Kalesniko's questionable title.Robin Wright Penn is also impressive in her role as Melanie, though it's not too much of a stretch for her artistically. But it's one of those straightforward `normal' characters that seem so easy to play they are often taken for granted (Easy? Let he among you who has acted in front of a camera without once looking at it cast the first stone). The real find here, however, is the young Hofrichter, who is endearing and totally effective as Amy, a young girl with her own challenges to overcome.The supporting cast includes Lynn Redgrave (Edna), Peter Riegert (Larry), Johnathon Schaech (Adam), Derek Kellock (Amy's Father) and Peri Gilpin (Debra). Happening upon this film is like ordering a hamburger and being served filet mignon for the same price; and it makes `How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog' a thoroughly satisfying and fulfilling cinematic experience. Give it a try. 8/10.
5 out of 5 people found the following review useful: Personality disorder comedy, 19 April 2000 Author: bman1 (bman1alcatraz@hotmail.com) from Los Angeles
The film is about a writer struggling with his block, his wife struggling to have children and the sweet girl next door who brings life to the writer and his wife. The film is not necessarily blockbuster quality and will do better on video rentals and sales. I saw a rough cut, so I cannot comment on the sound or editing. There are funny moments, and you will love the relationship between Kenneth Brannagh's character and the little girl. Can't give away any more!
6 out of 7 people found the following review useful: Intelligent Comedy, Worth Watching, 10 May 2003 Author: dromasca from Herzlya, Israel
I liked this movie - for a change we have here an intelligent comedy, smart dialogs, a conventional story that succeeds to almost never fall in the romantic routine. The story is set in Los Angeles. A British-American play-writer goes through a mid-life, mid-career, mid-relationship crisis. He is happily married, but the couple is childless, mostly probably because he is a champion of egocentrism and does not seem to like children very much. All this changes when a neighbor with an eight-year old daughter moves in. You have indeed seen the story in many other movies, but the masterful acting of Branagh with good support from the rest of the team, the sarcastic description of the content-empty life in the artistic circles in Los Angeles, and the witty relationship between the European roots of the character and his Americanized life make the film both interesting to watch, as well as true in message. 8 out of 10 on my personal scale.
4 out of 4 people found the following review useful: Cur, 2 April 2002 Author: tedg (tedg@FilmsFolded.com) from Virginia Beach
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Spoilers herein.I like constructions like this:-- Folding of narrative between what is written and the story of its writing-- Folding of time, where moments are shuffled-- Actors acting as actors: in this case Branagh sitting quiet while others act as his avatars-- Lots and lots of supporting constructive symmetries: the woman without a child and the woman who doesn't want a child; the `real' Peter and his dopple; the `real' Peter and his actor; a director who directs by performing; impotence and writer's block, others.-- Lots of intelligent wordplay including word symmetries. The most obvious of these is the symmetry of the neighbor's cur (dog) who dies, and Peter's curmudgeon (who also dies). This kind of play is deftly introduced in dialog between the two Peters, comically peppered by Branagh saying `I got nothing out of that,' after a fusilade from the other.-- All supported by good actors. In this case our top Shakespearean, and the wife of our top film actor. These people know how to collaborate so to keep the words suspended in front of us while flowing faster than normal and syncopated oddly.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful: Hilarious!, 12 October 2006 Author: Purity_of_Essence87 from United States
This overlooked gem is everything you want from a movie. It's funny, has great acting, and better yet - a plausible and well laid out plot! Kenneth Branagh shines as Peter, the writer with writer's block, and Robin Wright Penn is perfect as his child-hopeful wife.The dynamics presented are new and unique, as is the humor. You'll find no tired jokes in this flick! However, I did find myself laughing heartily out loud on more than one or two occasions.This is a great drama about middle age life, perceptions, and relationships. My advice? See this movie! It's truly great! Kenneth Branagh is one of my favorite actors, and that is how I stumbled across this film - I suggest you do the same.
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful: A Hidden Gem, 12 July 2004 Author: gordon peters from new jersey
I discovered this movie while browsing through Netflix. How I never heard about it before I don't know. But this is an excellent movie. Great cast, great writing. I liked all the story lines, which at first seemed disparate but neatly tied together by the end. Suzi Hofrichter as Amy is particularly good, but the whole cast is just wonderful. Even the uncredited Daniel Stern in a small but hilarious role. Robin Wright Penn is, as always, beautiful. And the scenes between Branagh and Peri Gilpin (of Frasier) are absolutely brilliant. I'm now the proud owner of a copy and plan to make sure all my dates, friends and relatives see it. If you haven't yet - do. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
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