MovieChat Forums > Year of the Dog (2007) Discussion > For Shame Molly Shannon

For Shame Molly Shannon

posted 17 years ago by jamesbliss10
11 replies | jump to latest

For Shame Molly Shannon

What a horrible, horrible, horrible movie.

A TOTAL slap in the face to every dog owner.

This movie was portrayed in the trailer as a story about a woman who loses her dog, but rescues a new one with a possible romantic relationship growing out of it. Well, it couldn't be more different and made dog owners look like total PETA extremists boardering on terrorists who commit home invasions and attempt the murder of their neighbors after attempting to brain wash toddlers.

This movie also portrayed the German Shepherd Dog as a vicious, anti-social, and impossible to train dog. Of course, that couldn't be further from the truth. As a German Shepherd Dog owner I can attest to the fact that there is no dog breed on this planet that has done more for mankind than the German Shepherd Dog. That is right, next time you use the subway or take a flight guess what breed is most likely protecting you from bombs? When you see a dangerous felon apprehended or a large drug shipment seized guess what breed is most likely to have made it possible? When it is the recovery of lost children or the bodies of loved ones from lonely woods guess what breed is mostly likely to be there? During our darkest hour among the ruins which were the World Trade Center and Pentagon guess what breed was there in that time of need? The answer is clearly the German Shepherd Dog that noble herding dog from Germany so protective of its flock and gentle that many have made the ultimate sacrifice for their owners in wars they could have never understood. The German Shepherd Dog that long recognized loyal companion of the blind and crippled. FOR SHAME to Molly Shannon and everyone else involved in this movie for their defamation. FOR SHAME.

FOR SHAME.

[–] The_Film_Addict 17 years ago

Saying this with deep respect, I think you got this movie all wrong. The German Shepard plot wasn't made to make the dog look bad but as a contrast to how the title character is. She never gave up on the dog, but the dog was abused and basically turned rotten. Not the dog's fault, he was lost just as she was. This argument could be made with any dog they use in the film, but I highly doubt the film makers wanted to make this German Shepard look bad.

[–] kgilbert_1999 17 years ago

I agree. The last shot of the German Shepherd dog alive was of him licking Molly's hand. I have a dog that is part German Shepherd and I never for one second came away from the movie thinking they were trying to paint the entire breed of German Shepherds in a bad light. Nor did I think they painted dog owners in a bad light. This was 1 story of 1 person whose grief pushed her over the edge but in the end found redemption and purpose by fighting for the rights of animals. I absolutely loved this film, and I especially loved that they didn't go with the cliched, predictable ending of her ending up with a man to be fulfilled.

[–] SheBear 17 years ago

I loved the film too. The poster who feels that all german shepherds have been slandered must have a screw loose. German shepherds are one of only a handful of breeds used as guide dogs for the blind so obviously they are not inherently nasty or untrainable. However I do have sometimes have a moment of apprehension around that breed because when I was young my family lived in fear because of 2 attack shepherds who lived next door.

"I'm aroused and confused."

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] uncahal 17 years ago

Oh man that is too funny. I love these forums.Just listen to this clown go on about German Shepards made my day.Which breed would you have used in the film dillweed?

[–] jrobert484-1 17 years ago

Thank you for giving me such a good, hard belly laugh. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. That was a totally non-sequiter rant that started loopy and deteriorated into absurd hystrionic blathering. The movie itself did nothing at all to make dog lovers look ridiculous, but you sure did. Thank you, thank you, thank you again for lightening my day.

Oh yeah- and the movie was really good too. All smart fans of smart comedy should see it.

[–] frogca 17 years ago

> made dog owners look like total PETA extremists boardering on terrorists who commit home invasions and attempt the murder of their neighbors after attempting to brain wash toddlers.

> This movie also portrayed the German Shepherd Dog as a vicious, anti-social, and impossible to train dog.

Geez, you're overgeneralizing. It was hardly about all dog owners. It was about one dog owner, one who felt traumatized and guilty. A person who was lonely and unrecognized by others and hence her pet was more important to her than they are for many people.

Also, it was not about all German shepherds, but rather about one that had behaviour issues because it had been abused. Guess you didn't actually watch the movie. Sheesh.

[–] hewito 17 years ago

no,its not about German Shepard,nor about dog owners,its about one person,just one person ,who not only got obsessed with dogs,but was easy manipulate by anyone,thats why she became a vegan....no people its not a smart comedy at all,its a movie that belong in the bottom shelf,because if you watched the trailer it gives you the wrong idea, that is because if they would of showed the real movie trailer not even the director would of watch it............nobody get mad, that is just my opinion.

[–] Janiedog 17 years ago

For the OP. No it was not a slap in the face for every dog owner. And shame on you for your post. If you think that this film was all about German Shepherds, than you didn't get it at all.

[–] tvlover1961 17 years ago

Agree with everyone except the OP. The scenes were not about how vicious German Shepherds are. It was about one dog that happened to be mistreated by previous owners.

But I will say that German Shepherds are not a dog for everyone. They are well known for their intelligence and if, as an owner, you do not have the upper hand, they will own you. Actually, that holds true for all dogs. But I have read that German Shepherds particularly will test their owners, much like children do to their parents. They can make good pets and yes, they have been at the forefront of rescues and service dogs, but not everyone can or should own one.

[–] Constant-Reader 17 years ago

As a dog owner, it WAS NOT a slap in my face, don't involve other dog owners in your totally misguided assessment of this wonderful movie. Don't "judge" the movie just because you didn't like the way it "judged" GS's. And don't "judge" Molly Shannon for playing a fictional character!! SHAME on you for being so judgemental!!

And I just read the rest of the posts, thanks to everyone that posted, I got a good laugh out of them, especially the 'screw loose" one! and I should add that I was bit by a GS when I was 3. As an adult, I still have the scar yet I harbor no ill feelings towards the breed.