Jeri Jacquin
Coming to Bluray this week from Universal Pictures Home
Entertainment and director Lasse Hallstrom based on The New York Times
best-selling novel of A DOG’S PURPOSE.
Bailey (voiced by Josh Gad) is a dog who finds his person in
8-year-old Ethan (Bryce Gheisar). They spend their every waking moment together
and Bailey doesn’t want it any other way. As Ethan becomes a teen he meets
Hanna (Britt Robertson) and the three are happy together.
When Ethan has an accident and his life changes, he goes off
to college to study to become a farmer. That means Bailey stays behind on
Ethan’s grandparent’s farm until old age takes him.
But Bailey comes again as Ellie the training police dog,
then Tino a girl’s best friend and then Buddy. As this new incarnation, Bailey
recognizes his surroundings and the smells of his previous life. Finding his
way back to the farm he sees Ethan (Dennis Quaid) who is living alone on the
farm.
Not wanting to deal with it, Ethan pushes the dog away but
not for long. Naming him Buddy, he begins to see something he can’t explain in
the dog. Seeing that Ethan is alone, it becomes Buddy/Bailey’s mission to find
another smell he recognizes.
Back in town Buddy/Bailey finds Hannah (Peggy Lipton) and
knows that this is what is missing in his two legged friend’s life. There is
one more thing that Buddy/Bailey wants for his best friend and it’s only
something Ethan would know!
Gad as Bailey/Tino/Ellie and Buddy is the perfect voice for
it all. There are inflections in his voice that are meaningful, loving, sad and
very playful. The dual performance of this lovely dogs and Gad’s voice make the
film so lovely that dog lovers won’t be able to help but run the gambit of
emotions.
Gheisar as 8-year-old Ethan has a lot to deal with for such
a young boy. His father goes through his own issues that keep Ethan at arms
length but having Bailey gives this young boy hope and love. K.J. Apa as the
teenage Ethan is strong knowing that no matter what his father does, he has the
love of his Mom and the devotion of Bailey – and he certainly needs it.
Quaid as the adult Ethan is a man who clearly holds some
resentment about the way life has taken its turn. Not wanting anything to do
with another dog in his life, there is something about the dog that shows up at
his door that changes everything for him – including opening doors he shut long
ago.
Robertson as the teenage Hannah is a young girl who clearly
is perfectly suited to the country life with Ethan. She absolutely adores
Bailey and when an event changes all their plans for the future, she is heart
broken. Lipton as an adult Hannah is wonderful because I have always been a fan
so when she shows up in films I’m delighted. Her role isn’t a big one but it
sure makes a point about life!
Other cast includes Juliet Rylance as Ethan’s Mom, Luke
Kirby as Ethan’s Dad, Gabrielle Rose as Grandma Fran, Michael Bofshever as
Grandpa Bill, Logan Miller as Todd, Kirby Baptiste as Maya, Nicole LaPlaca as
Wendi and Pooch Hall as Al.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has just added an
amazing film to their library and making it available for us all to experience
and re-experience in our own home theatres. There are films of every genre
available from scary to drama to family films. For more of what they have to
offer please visit www.uphe.com.
Amblin Entertainment brings quality film such as BRIDGE OF SPIES
A DOG’S PURPOSE is from the bestselling novel by W. Bruce
Cameron and it has transferred onto the screen in such a unique and lovely way.
Each incarnation of dog is just so adorable which means I’m going to go through
my “I want a dog” phase for a while – thanks so much for that!
There are so many amazing messages of love, family,
devotion, protection, hope, belief in the human-canine connection. Of course
anyone who has had a dog as part of their family knows all of this to be very
true. I don’t think anyone should watch this film without a tissue box next to
them.
The Bonus Features on the Bluray and DVD include Deleted Scenes, Outtakes, Lights Camera Woof!,
and A Writer’s Purpose that tells
the story behind Cameron’s beloved best-selling novel. Included in the Bluray
Combo Pack is a DVD and Digital HD with Ultra Violet bringing the best picture
with 6X picture resolution and theater-quality sound.
In the end – every dog happens for a reason!
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