Best movie ever!

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

just a delicious entertaining story! i really didn't get the 'depressed' description of the main character Solo. he is way too active to be depressed. but that issue is not a problem.the plot line and story are what keeps this film smoothly moving and charming from start to finish.if you are just looking for a simple story of human interaction and how a dog lives and is affected by humans this is your movie. solo and the dog have a wonderful relationship and is a perfect look at how pets depend on their owners and how the owner of a pet must operate his life around it.the characters are fun - not necessarily believable, but fun to watch.

Intriguing, and more importantly, believable dialog is the hallmark of this underrated film. I only learned after seeing this on TV that the writer was the Scott Cain, son of Michael, who played the hip photographer who was the buddy of the awkward introspective main character Solo, played by Giovanni Ribisi.The two, with their different personalities, still conveyed a genuine connection that was the sustaining thread of this pastiche of screwball comedy and character exploration. Solo is introduced having his last session with his shrink, depicted Don Cheadle.He follows up on the Doc's suggestion to get a dog and then begins the interplay of goons, ultra rich heiress, more goons, threats, strippers....all amazingly entertaining.And then there's the dog, credited in the film as "Jimmy the Dog" who plays his part with aplomb and deeply felt affection. His main function is to allow Solo and his romantic interest, Lola, to "meet cute" and form their own connection.-a bit of spoiler here, beware- Now, we are back to the writer, Scott Cain. I suspect that as he was dong the final edit it hit him, " This is a friggen Disney movie. I can't let it end, you know, Happy. That will never do." So, by destroying what we came to expect, and deserve, a Hollywood ending, he betrayed the essence of the story.So, this is my caveat to achieve my 9 stars. When Solo is in his new Hotel Room let's make our own ending. The hell with Scott's screenplay. Let that knock on the door be Lola with a heartfelt demand that they not throw away this chance for happiness, that they make a life, the three of them together.And then flash back in your mind to every movie that left you feeling good in spite of those tears in your eyes. Then, by this minor collaboration, we have one great film.

I realize the line on my summary is not too polite.This film written & directed by Scott Caan & starring Giovanni Ribisi,Don Cheadle & himself runs a long 88 minutes.There is a dog in this puppy of a movie., he is cute.The movie opened in 2 U.S. theatres in late April 2007,for one week & grossed all of $ 914. It quickly went to DVD in early August 2007.We were only able to take about 40 minutes before we turned the DVD off.This was the type of movie that played on lower half of double bill. You saw the main film & figured lets see what this one is like, You might have walked out before we shut it off.The 3 actors & the young ladies in the film all have done & deserve better than this..Ratings: ** (out of 4) 54 points (out of 100) IMDb 4 (out of 10_

Let me start by saying I don't recall laughing once during this comedy. From the opening scene, our protagonist Solo (Giovanni Ribisi) shows himself to be a self-absorbed, feeble, and neurotic loser completely unable to cope with the smallest responsibilities such as balancing a checkbook, keeping his word, or forming a coherent thought. I guess we're supposed to be drawn to his fragile vulnerability and cheer him on through the process of clawing his way out of a deep depression. I guess we're supposed to sympathize as he stumbles through a series of misadventures seemingly triggered by his purchase of a dog, but in reality brought on by his own contemptible nature. I didn't get the slightest hint at any point that Solo ever possessed any redeeming character, which became disturbingly apparent when he failed to feed his dog for a few days. No spark of humanity or glimmer of conscience gave me hope that he would ever realize his life is so utterly miserable because he's a self- absorbed, self-pitying lowlife. I didn't develop any connection with this character. He didn't seem to care, and so neither did I. I actually wanted him to get his kneecaps busted at one point.The dog was not a character in the film. It was simply a prop to be used, neglected, scorned, abused, coveted and disposed of on a whim. So be warned. Even though "dog" is in the title, this film is not a romantic comedy for dog lovers.Scott Caan's role is amusing and believable as the oversexed best friend/cad. Don Cheadle is sincere and magnetic - I always want to see more of him on screen. Mena Suvari was delightfully repellent. Lynn Collins role of a "stripper with a heart" was well acted, but the character was simultaneously absurd and clichéd, not to mention there was zero chemistry between her and Ribisi.Romantic? Hardly. Comedy? If you say so.