The Art of Racing in the Rain: Something to Bark Home About?
If you’ve seen the trailers, read the book, read the reviews, then you already know that The Art of Racing in the Rain is going to take you on an emotional roller coaster. My suggestion is to just try and remind yourself that unlike its spiritual cousin, Marley and Me, this one isn’t based off a true story. Maybe it will help keep back the tears somewhat successfully during those tearjerking moments.
I can’t lie… rather than fearing that this movie would be to much emotion to handle, I feared that it would disappoint. I went into it a bit jaded. Dogs truly are some of the best creatures on this planet but after so many overly melodramatic stories such as A Dog’s Journey you can’t help but be skeptical of movies that seem to follow a similar beat. I was fully expecting to be unimpressed. I even did something I almost never do at the theatre and treated myself to a large soda, completely unconcerned with having to go to the bathroom and miss some of the film.
Unfortunately for my small bladder, as The Art of Racing in the Rain went on and on, I began growing more and more attached with the story to the point that I forced myself to battle through the discomfort and stay through the whole thing without getting up for a bathroom break. I love that type of experience when you go into the movie theatre expecting nothing and get surprised. That’s not to say that this film isn’t sometimes overly dramatic, sappy, or cheesy. However, at the end of the day it does so much right that you’re easily willing to disregard its faults.
The story all takes place through the perspective and narration of the Kevin Costner voiced dog, Enzo. That’s definitely a role none of us saw coming. It’s funny though because although The Art of Racing in the Rain is told solely through Enzo’s voice, it doesn’t feel like as much of a dog movie as something like A Dog’s Journey. The human stories are just as engrossing and really the more important part of the story. Enzo is really just the conduit to let us know what’s going on. That’s what surprised me. The characters and their progression actually had some real depth and meaning that helped engross the audience into their lives. It’s not the happy go lucky people story where a dog gets sick at the end that I expected. There’s a lot that happens with everyone involved.
The Art of Racing in the Rain also avoids something that I find is becoming an increasing problem with most movies released today. It doesn’t overstay its welcome and is really the perfect length. There are some cringeworthy moments and scenes that don’t make a whole lot of sense(particularly one with a zebra) but overall, director Simon Curtis, was able to trim off most of the fat.
The Art of Racing in the Rain isn’t any game-changing, best of the year type of movie. What it is, however, is a really nice surprise in one of the slower summer movie months. All the emotional moments are handled extremely tastefully and the movie does a great job of conveying Enzo’s story as a larger metaphor for our own lives. Don’t let your fear of crying uncontrollably stop you from going to check this one out. If you’re a dog or animal lover in general, you’re bound to find something to love in The Art of Racing in the Rain
