Ok, I've only rented the movie twice, and think it's terrific. If I ever see the DVD in stores, I'm gonna pounce. I forget how this scene plays out in the movie.
However, I own the book; I must have read it 11 times and I still crack up. Richard Russo's prose is hilarious. For that matter, I recommend Straight Man as even more hilarious. (It's about a college professor, full of middle-aged ennui, whose dearly loved wife is out of town for a week. During her absence, he manages to fulfill all her worst expectations about him.)
Here in Nobody's Fool, they want to steal Carl's snowblower. The padlock on the gate is inside the fence, no big deal if you have the key to reach in and unlock it, but it would be too difficult to hacksaw the thing from the outside. There's also that Doberman to consider. So, they poison the dog, (it wasn't meant to be lethal, just temporary) go away and come back. Peter climbs the fence to hacksaw it from the other side and while he's doing this, the seriously stoned dog sneaks up on him. In the book, it's hilarious how Peter and Sully freeze while the dog is frozen from the drugs. In the book, time slows down for Peter, as he stares at the dog, reviewing his life, and comes to the conclusion that it would be a good thing if the dog tears his throat out. Then the dog keels over. Peter finishes with the lock, they open the gate, steal the snowblower, and Sully even reaches in and relocks the gate with a lock he found in his toolbox, so "nobody steals anything."
I believe they didn't show the next part in the movie, because the animal rights types would have a kitten, but in the book, it shows how Carl has fun tormenting that poor brain damaged animal. It is so sick, so sidesplitting funny I still cry with laughter after reading it 11 times. The ultimate cruelty, however, is when he leaves it with Sully, with a note on it's collar, "You damaged it, it's yours." Ultimately the poor unwanted animal ends up saving Sully's life.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that, if you didn't enjoy the movie, give the book a chance. The movie was a real good adaptation, but the book has more, a lot more, and it's one genuinely funny read.
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