The Dog Problem (2006)

Director:

Scott Caan

Writer:

Scott Caan (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

In L.A., Solo has writer's block after a successful first book he's ashamed of. He's broke, thanks to a year in analysis; in their final session...

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | Stripper | Psychiatrist | Female Nudity | Dog

Cast

Lynn Collins	...	Lola
Scott Caan	...	Casper
Kevin Corrigan	...	Benny
Sarah Shahi	...	Candy
Tito Ortiz	...	Frank
Kimo Leopoldo	...	Ted
Brian Goodman	...	Joe the Guard
Jennifer Carpenter	...	Redheaded Waitress
Laura Katz	...	Late Night Waitress
Joanna Krupa	...	Taffy
Crispian Belfrage	...	Jeffrey the Butler
Med Abrous	...	Brad
Melissa Keller	...	Escalator Girl
Elizabeth Carey	...	Angry Ketchup Waitress (as Liz Carey)
Jimmy the Dog	...	Spot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Don Cheadle	...	Dr. Nourmand
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Solo
Mena Suvari	...	Jules
Curt Clendenin	...	Strip-club Patron (uncredited)
Steve Jones	...	Himself (uncredited)
Hana Mae Lee	...	Girl in Cafe (uncredited)
Ali Pomerantz	...	Judy the Vet Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Scott Caan

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Scott Caan		writer

Produced by
Jesse Johnston	....	co-producer
Stephanie Lewis	....	co-producer
Brent Morris	....	line producer
Jonah Smith	....	producer
Palmer West	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Mothersbaugh

Cinematography by
Phil Parmet

Film Editing by
Jeffrey M. Werner

Casting by
Emily Schweber

Production Design by
Cory Lorenzen

Set Decoration by
Missy Parker

Costume Design by
Rebecca Bentjen

Makeup Department
Barbara Lamelza	....	key makeup artist
Tamara McNaughton	....	key hair stylist
Danielle Lyn Saunders	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Cynthia Garcia Walker	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ben Bywater	....	second second assistant director
Jim Simone	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Emily Dawson	....	set dresser
Roger Dertinger	....	property master
Kevin 'Chevy' Martinez	....	leadman
Lindsey Winger	....	swing
Amanda Weaver	....	swing intern (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Robert Getty	....	supervising sound editor
Danielle Ghent	....	dialogue editor
John Hays	....	boom operator
Micah Johnson	....	assistant sound
Derek Marcil	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jared Marshack	....	foley editor
Eric Raber	....	sound effects editor
Alec St. John	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alec St. John	....	supervising sound editor
Pawel Wdowczak	....	sound mixer

Visual Effects by
Howie Nourmand	....	title designer

Camera and Electrical Department
James Atkins	....	best boy grip
Dennis L. Baker	....	electrician
James Banfield	....	set lighting technician
Patrick Fogarty	....	camera department intern
BJ McDonnell	....	camera operator
BJ McDonnell	....	steadicam operator
Rory Muirhead	....	first assistant camera
Vince Palomino	....	key grip
Stephen Tachera	....	lighting console programmer
Sam Urdank	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Jennifer Levy	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karen Cortes	....	key set costumer
Sarah Lee-Taylor	....	key costumer
Kip Ren	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Chris Petrus	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Amanda Brammall	....	assistant music supervisor

Transportation Department
Corey Askins	....	transportation coordinator
Josh Sarfaty	....	driver

Other crew
Justin Anderson	....	production assistant
Drew Baker	....	office production assistant
Dan Beal	....	location scout
Sharon Cingle	....	script supervisor
Paul Cozzi	....	location assistant
Darci Dunnagan	....	office production assistant
Ryan Janata	....	set production assistant
Brooks Kephart	....	production assistant
David Kraemer	....	set production assistant
Heather Long	....	animal trainer
Stanley Longstreet	....	location scout
Peter Madamba	....	script researcher
Mary Helen Phelan	....	key set production assistant
Eric Pilarcik	....	location manager
Cindy Swartz	....	set medic

Production Companies

• Dog Problem LLC
• Thousand Words

Distributors

• THINKFilm

Other Companies

• Widget Post Production  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual content and nudity.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Dog Problem LLC

Quotes:

Solo: Life is a delicate negotiation.

Decent, but really just because of Ribisi.

I've always felt that Giovanni Ribisi is the most underused (along with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Zooey Deschanel) and one of the most talented actors working today. Further proof of that is his fantastic performance in this light-hearted, mediocre independent comedy directed and written by Scott Caan. The film centers around a broke, self-centered and hopelessly depressed writer named Solo (Giovanni) who after a year of seeing a therapist (Don Cheadle) five days a week decides to get a dog. Getting this dog begins a wild adventure that involves his best friend (played by Caan), a stripper whom he grows a strong affection for (Lynn Collins), her friend (the criminally underused Sarah Shahi), a gangster whom he owes money to (Kevin Corrigan) and a spoiled rich girl straight out of My Super Sweet 16 (Mena Suvari).

It's a fun film about the true wealth of finding love with some genuinely hilarious scenes scattered throughout. I've never liked Scott Caan as an actor; I always find him playing the same arrogant, dirtbag character and I really don't like his sense of humor so that didn't help me in trying to enjoy the film. Also, while the subplots with the gangster (who we never find out how he got connected to Solo or why Solo owes him money) and the spoiled girl offer some great opportunities for Giovanni to show off his comedic talent, their appearance in the film ultimately feels like pointless filler. But the film manages to succeed due to the great work by the always underrated Giovanni Ribisi who adds so much charm, quirk and hilarity to every film he's in that it's impossible not to love him and it is pretty entertaining throughout.