Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		2.5

Dog Blu-ray Movie Review

I'm a sucker for a good dog movie... but in this case, I'll half to settle for half of one. Directed by Reid Carolin and Channing Tatum (who also stars), Dog tells the surprisingly not-at-all-true story of former U.S. Army Ranger Jackson Briggs (Tatum), who's struggling to cope with PTSD and can't secure a high-paying security job overseas due to nagging brain injuries. After the sudden death of former squad mate Riley Rodriguez, Jackson is offered a deal by his former commanding officer: drive down to Arizona for the funeral with Lulu, Riley's beloved Belgian Shepherd, and he just might sign off on the security job. The catch is two-fold, however: Lulu also served in combat and struggles with her own war wounds (hence the driving) and, after the funeral, she'll be euthanized at a military base.

Dog has all the ingredients for a successful tear-jerker, yet mostly plays like a road comedy that takes way too many oddball detours. During a quick stop at a gun range to blow off some steam, Jackson returns to chewed-up car seats. A pub crawl in Portland sees unsuccessful attempts to hit own a few "woke libs" and a failed three-way after you-know-who is again left out in the car alone. A strange scent leads to the pair's eventual capture at a pot farmer's house and, later, a swanky hotel visit is cut short when (a) Jackson pretends to be be blind, and (b) Lulu attacks a Muslim doctor. (They're eventually detained by local police including an officer played by comic Bill Burr, whose extended cameo is so painfully distracting and borderline pointless that it almost, almost made me forget I like his podcast.) Although both Rangers hit rock bottom along the way, once their Arizona destination is reached -- and later, the military base where Lulu's due to be put down -- they've both grown to downright tolerate each other's company.

(End spoilers)

It's an odd path indeed for a film that is neither family-friendly entertainment nor a hard-edged adult drama, sitting somewhat uncomfortably in that PG-13 middle ground where most movies released in February -- and after multiple COVID-related delays, no less -- go to die a quick and painless box-office death. Some of the jokes in Dog are pretty tasteless, and its many anti-liberal sentiments -- most of which take place during the Portland pit stop, which could have been skipped entirely -- feel extremely forced and petty. Yet somehow this film still ends up being a reasonably enjoyable and occasionally effective drama, landing a few poignant uppercuts during its barrage of perpetually wild comedic jabs. It likewise ended up exceeding most commercial expectations, earning back over five times its modest $15M budget on a mixture of name value and, of course, that trusty "cute dog" factor. I'd watch it again for sure, though probably with my hand on the "chapter skip" button during some of its dumber detours.

These days, it seems that only Warner Bros.' biggest tentpole titles (read: superhero films) get optional 4K releases and bonus features, which means this barebones Blu-ray of Dog might be a tough blind buy recommendation. It's decent entertainment within the genre's admittedly loose boundaries and, despite my reservations about some of its content and pacing, it really is more of a genuine, heartfelt crowd- pleaser than most in its class. But the rough edges are still there, and with a little bit more sanding Dog could have been almost twice as effective.

Dog Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Not much information could be unearthed regarding Dog's technical origins; they're clearly all-digital, but the true DCP resolution was not specified anywhere I could find. This means that a full 4K edition might not have made a great deal of difference but, for the most part, Warner Bros.' Blu-ray of this MGM production offers a pleasing visual presentation for the film's wide variety of location footage. Dog is a cleanly and capably shot film, one that only gets into trouble on a few occasions in extreme darkness where fine detail gets a little mushy, black levels flatten out, and mild ghosting even creeps in to the picture. Luckily those scenes are few and far between, with most of Dog bathed in golden-hour glow and sunny outdoor locations that feature terrific detail and noticeable textures that even reach into background elements. Colors stay natural for the most part and skin/fur tones are likewise fully dependent on lighting, occasionally appearing desaturated in areas of heavy sun and taking on the neon glow of stylized cross-lighting in various hotels, bars, and clubs. Warner Bros.' Blu-ray runs at a consistently high bit rate on this dual-layered disc, which honestly might not even have needed the extra real estate: total disc content barely exceeds 100 minutes.

Dog Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Along with the lack of a 4K option and no bonus features, another casualty of Warner Bros.' current release strategy for "second- tier" titles is omitting Dolby Atmos tracks... but while Dog isn't exactly a sonic tour de force and this DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix is capable enough, it's still a missed opportunity. Nonetheless, dialogue remains clean and crisp, separation is quite strong at times, and there's more than enough room left over for several well-placed pop cuts and Thomas Newman's original score (which digs right into the rear channels from the first moment onward). Occasional action scenes and a stray violent thunderstorm provide more tangible surround use, with emotional intensity dialed up elsewhere in more stylized ways like a sudden health scare during the film's final act. It's a fine presentation overall and perhaps even better than my rating suggests, but the lack of Atmos audio warrants a small deduction.

Dog Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in a dual-hubbed keepcase with poster-themed cover art, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy code. Extras are shockingly minimal for a major studio film that performed well beyond expectations.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:32) - This deceptive promotional piece can also be seen here.

Dog Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Reid Carolin and Channing Tatum's film Dog is a strange beast of a film, shifting somewhat awkwardly between several genres and tones that don't quite make it ideal family entertainment or substantial enough fare for adult audiences. It's still ultimately a crowd-pleaser that's worth watching for dog lovers, although another round of script revisions would have solved most of its nagging problems. Warner Bros.' Blu- ray sadly offers only the bare minimum of support: the are no real bonus features here, no original Atmos audio, and of course no 4K option despite Dog's box office success. It's possibly worth a purchase for established fans but more of a "try before you buy" disc.