MovieChat Forums > Year of the Dog (2007) Discussion > ***SPOILERS*** Pro or Anti message???

SPOILERS Pro or Anti message???

posted 18 years ago by agock_onie
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What an odd film. The whole thing seems to want to grow up to be a pro-PETA messenger but in actuality the creepy, no-makeup, attack-the-neighbor de-evolution of the main character seems to do more to damage the animal rights movement than boost it.
I am reminded of "Falling Down" where, even though you agree with some of D-FENS' gripes, you don't stand up and cheer for him because, COME ON HE'S CRAZY.
The same thing with Molly Shannon's character in this film. Even if you are of the vegan, pro-PETA, throw-paint-on-celebs-wearing-fur mindset, most people would not shout out a "you go, girlfriend" to her because she's as nutty as a fruit cake.

OR, and bear with me on this one, maybe the level of insanity posessed by the militant save-the-<animalofthemonth> people is so great, so deep, so Cookoo for Cocoa Puffs that this bit of lunacy is ACTUALLY an attempt to wrench their image back into the "mainstream" and the craziness portrayed is as "normal" as they could come up with.

Don't get me wrong. I can appreciate a good character study and not need explosions and sex to stay awake. And any good film about one's decent into madness is always welcome (Hell, Pink Floyd's The Wall is HOW MANY hours of it?) but c'mon put some meat on its bones PUN INTENDED.

You don't walk out of this movie saying either "BAH, Gimme a steak" or "Oh I'm going to save all the little bunnies". You just kind of walk out, scratching, and saying "ummmmm...ok?"

Just my $0.02

[–] janicebrwn 18 years ago

Unfortunately, you fall into the category of "don't get it" reviewers. The movie was not ultimately pro or con animal rights, but about a woman finding herself - going from a nondescript people pleaser to a fully developed human who picked what was most important in life to her and followed through.

I loved the way the movie showed her transition, and yes, it's not unusual to go a little mad when you first get into animal rights and find out how truly horrible things are and thinking you can change the world. Ultimately, Peggy reconciled her love of animals with what she could do, and accepted that helping to make changes, though small, was the most important thing in her life.

I have observed that people are either "animal people" or not. And it's impossible to see the other side and we just have to accept that the other side exists and will never see things our way (the right way, of course). Peggy's life so perfectly depicted all of these changes in a strange, loving, sad and funny way. Mike White is a GENIUS!