MovieChat Forums > The Dog Problem (2007) Discussion > Quality entertainment right until the la...

Quality entertainment right until the last scene

posted 15 years ago by alrodbel
9 replies | jump to latest

The final scene, where the dog was returned to it's owner, was enough to destroy the effect.

As a dog lover, and someone who can identify with a loser who "watches war documentaries" I found this actually more than just entertainment, but an absorbing character exploration, that was also great fun to watch.

Solo had finally met the woman who matched his awkward exterior with some actual substance. They had a ready made family with a shy kid of a different species that they both loved.

There are those once in a lifetime matches, that are not simply thrown away because it seems more interesting.

Sometimes there is a choice between wish fulfillment, the old Hollywood ending, and avoiding it out of some hope that it will avoid being a cliche. No. It's actually a greater cliche of trying to avoid giving the audience the "happy ending" that we had expected, and hoped for.

And in this case it would have fit perfectly.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] djmattn 15 years ago

" I hope you didn`t walk here". Perfect ending to this very quirky, funny, and well written film...

[–] wwbrad90 15 years ago

The happy ending you were hoping for was right there; it just wasn't shown. Lola had to be waiting just out of sight. After all, someone had to knock on the door.

Also, while it's plausible that the dog could have found his way around Los Angeles to a place that he had been before (the pet store), it's impossible that he could have found his way to somewhere he had never been. So, someone had to bring the dog to Solo, and Lola is the most likely person to do so.

[–] Jacaday 15 years ago

Haha this is a reply to all messages. OK you saw Lola's car right. OK well this is what i got from the ending pissed at it while i was in the shower sulking over the ending. Then it hit just as the scene where it shows spots actual steps on avoiding everyone to get to the pet store. OK lets do the ending. OK you saw Lola's car right. It park's the knock at the door and you don't hear the car pull off. then he says you didn't walk all this way. then it flashes fin. which it is not finished so that's why it types fin. you have to go back to what he told her she brought the dog to him because she regretted not having both so she was making it right. THAT IS MY THEORY. perfect ending.

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[–] davebpa 15 years ago

Fin is French for "Finished". Hence alot of movies end with that, it has nothing to do with "Finished" not being completely typed out.

I didn't notice her car there. Was it Lola's car, I thought it was his. Anyway, the movie was pretty bad. Giovanni Ribisi was great, ashame he keeps doing these movies, he's as good as DiCaprio.

[–] night-dandelion 15 years ago

It was her car, white car, you can see it... I don't know why so many people missed the fact :)

[–] jadedlemon 15 years ago

subtlety is completely wasted on many people. unless the characters end up in each other's arms, then it wasn't a happy ending.

[–] ray.orourke 15 years ago

It was enough to see the dog return to the owner at the end for it to be a good movie - and I would have considered it incomplete without that. She is there too of course, for she was the one who knew that he went to Needles, the dog would have had no idea where to go in order to find him on his own.

[–] exatera 15 years ago

Problem is, it was aiming for cutesy. But yes, I would have been happier had it been satisfying instead.