MovieChat Forums > Turner & Hooch (1989) Discussion > Why this movie doesn't work (spoilers, o...

Why this movie doesn't work (spoilers, obviously)

posted 17 years ago by jgroub
57 replies | jump to latest

I thought this was a family movie, and my 8 year old daughter, who loves dogs (as I do), watched it with me. I was pretty shocked to see that he died. You can't have a family movie and the gruesome death of a dog. Fortunately, she understood when I explained that they put barbecue sauce on the real Hooch and somehow kept him from licking it off. But that's pretty horrifying for a child.

Now, I've read the other threads on this board, and there is some validity to what they say, that this ending is more realistic, and isn't the trite Hollywood ending where the dog survives. That's as may be, but they can't have it both ways. If the movie is going to be serious, then Tom Hanks has to be serious too, and shutup. If the movie is going to be light family fare, then the dog can't die. You can't have both.

I think this is the main reason the movie scores so low. I liked the movie fine, the scenes with Hanks and the dog are funny as hell, but as a whole, it doesn't work due to the very heavy ending. It's just too serious after such a cutesy movie. And it's not family-friendly at all.

Oh yeah, all that, and Tom "the bod" Hanks getting together with Mare "my face looks like a mare" Winningham. She's nice, she's an okay actor, but she's not in Tom's league. And she has that horse face. Ugh. Sorry, Mare, but your name says it all. (And what was it with showing Hanks in the tighty-whitey (or blacky) underwear for half the movie?)

I asked the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] steelywulf 10 years ago

@jgroub, First of all, anyone who teaches his or her kids that it's okay to say cruel and hurtful things about someone's looks is a shi-ty parent. Secondly, you must have never seen "Old Yeller." It is a book and movie for the whole family. Yet, Yeller gets rabies and has to be put down by way of a gun, so he doesn't bite and infect anyone. A very sad tearjerking ending.

[–] catbookss 10 years ago

@jgroub, First of all, anyone who teaches his or her kids that it's okay to say cruel and hurtful things about someone's looks is a shi-ty parent. Secondly, you must have never seen "Old Yeller." It is a book and movie for the whole family. Yet, Yeller gets rabies and has to be put down by way of a gun, so he doesn't bite and infect anyone. A very sad tearjerking ending.

I agree. Teaching your kids it's okay to say hurtful things about someone's looks isn't okay.

I was going to mention Old Yeller, Bambi, and The Yearling, although I will say I wish I hadn't seen any of them when I was a kid, particularly Old Yeller and The Yearling. Not all kids are the same. Some, such are yourself, no doubt react differently, but I know a lot of people who were negatively affected the same way I was. Not all kids are the same, any more than all adults are.

I agree somewhat with the OP about Turner & Hooch. While I didn't see the trailers for it, my impression was it was a kid's movie, which is why I didn't see it for years. I think of it as a comedy/romance/drama. I didn't like that Hooch died, but the his puppies did soften the blow, so the ending was fine for me.

[–] Khitt66 9 years ago

So... One guy gets stabbed in the leg then has his throat slit for stealing drug money... Then Amos is stabbed in the lung and drowns in his own blood... and that's okay for your 8 year old daughter... but a dog getting shot; THAT'S not okay...!?

Sorry to bump an old thread but am I the only one who finds fault in this man's deeply unsettling logic? You're exposed to brutal murders, corruption and crime almost immediately and still you continue to watch with your child under the assumption that this is a family movie. Worse than that is the fact that apparently both you and your child are conditioned to devalue human life to such a ridiculous degree that you consider murder to be family content when compared to a dead dog. Honestly, man! Either you have some serious psychological issues or you're just an idiot...

[–] king_of_bob 9 years ago

From the first sentence, I knew you were a complete idiot.

It is a family movie and it deals with REAL subjects that affect REAL families. Dogs don't live forever, but the beauty is in the fact that Hooch sacrificed himself to save Turners life. Something that NEVER would have happened at the beginning of the movie.

The death is also far from gruesome. Hooch was shot once. Don't ever watch John Wick or Needful Things if you think Hooch's death is gruesome.

Fortunately, she understood when I explained that they put barbecue sauce on the real Hooch and somehow kept him from licking it off. But that's pretty horrifying for a child.

You are a terrible parent. You should have had a discussion about death with your child and in addition explain the difference between fiction and reality. It is not horrifying for a child. It's heartbreaking, but it is not at all hard to put into perspective. Hiding the truth of death from your child is NOT good parenting.

Now, I've read the other threads on this board, and there is some validity to what they say, that this ending is more realistic, and isn't the trite Hollywood ending where the dog survives. That's as may be, but they can't have it both ways. If the movie is going to be serious, then Tom Hanks has to be serious too, and shutup. If the movie is going to be light family fare, then the dog can't die. You can't have both.

This just proves you're a terrible viewer. A comedy isn't restricted from having real emotional weight. You have no idea what you're talking about.

I think this is the main reason the movie scores so low. I liked the movie fine, the scenes with Hanks and the dog are funny as hell, but as a whole, it doesn't work due to the very heavy ending. It's just too serious after such a cutesy movie. And it's not family-friendly at all.

You are objectively wrong.

Oh yeah, all that, and Tom "the bod" Hanks getting together with Mare "my face looks like a mare" Winningham. She's nice, she's an okay actor, but she's not in Tom's league. And she has that horse face. Ugh. Sorry, Mare, but your name says it all. (And what was it with showing Hanks in the tighty-whitey (or blacky) underwear for half the movie?)

Oh, and you're a judgmental *beep* to boot. Good to know.

The new home of Welcome to Planet Bob: http://kingofbob.blogspot.ca/

[–] TVippy 8 years ago

Thing is: this is NOT a DV... family movie. You should not allow anyone under 16 watch it. I'm serious.
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OCD predator: www.goo.gl/0avZjB

[–] annmason-44849 8 years ago

I agree completely with you. Though yes, death happens,one must be consistent within a tonal framework.

This film sought to add depth at the end to give weight to the action. It feels like an afterthought dropped in to play on the viewer's sympathy rather than humor.

It doesn't work. If you're going to mix sweet and sour, do it from the git go, and mix it well.This film is not mixed well.

[–] jgroub 8 years ago

Exactly. Thank you.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] TheManInOil 8 years ago

Are you kidding?

You can't have a dog (or other featured animal) die in a children's story?

Old Yeller
Charlotte's Web
Bambi
Watership Down

etc. etc. - MANY children's stories feature the death of an animal. In many cases, the event is central to the story. These are stories kids remember forever and almost invariably love.

Then you go on about Winningham's face, which right away clarifies that you're just a troll or an *beep*