`DOG PARK' COULD LEARN NEW TRICK.Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic ``Dog Park's'' central motif is, well, taking the dog for a walk, and the movie is about as exciting and eventful as that errand usually is. It's another gimmicky romantic comedy without much insight, originality or energy to it. Andy (Luke Wilson, who currently can be seen working the same sweet schlub schlub also shlub n. Slang A person regarded as clumsy, stupid, or unattractive. [Yiddish, from Polish quality in ``Blue Streak''), is a recently dumped young bachelor who misses his ditsy dit·sy also dit·zy adj. dit·si·er also dit·zi·er, dit·si·est also dit·zi·est Slang Eccentric or scatterbrained: "Needless to say, this ditsy crew succeeds in spite of itself" girlfriend, Cheryl (Kathleen Robertson), perhaps a little less than he does their pooch Mogley, who is now a child of joint custody joint custody n. in divorce actions, a decision by the court (often upon agreement of the parents) that the parents will share custody of a child. There are two types of custody, physical and legal. . The movie's funniest bits involve Mogley's therapy sessions, where Andy and Cheryl are forced to learn unwanted information about each other's new love lives by a doggie psychiatrist (``Kids in the Hall's'' Mark McKinney Mark Douglas Brown McKinney (born June 26, 1959) is a Canadian comedian and actor, best known for his work in the long-running sketch comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall. ) whose own wretched family makes his preference for pets' feelings over people's evident. Anyway, Andy has a pickup encounter with TV kiddie kid·die or kid·dy n. pl. kid·dies Slang A small child. kiddie Noun Informal a child show host Lorna (``Species'' progenitor pro·gen·i·tor n. 1. A direct ancestor. 2. An originator of a line of descent. progenitor ancestor, including parent. progenitor cell stem cells. Natasha Henstridge) that, despite culminating in an upset stomach, he finds pretty encouraging. But she's reluctant to pursue their relationship for movie reasons that never really convince, so they both wind up going out with wrong people before their canine co-interests bring them back together. The happily mated friends who give Andy lots of useless dating advice are played by Janeane Garofalo and Bruce McCulloch, another ``Kids in the Hall'' graduate who also wrote and directed ``Dog Park.'' McCulloch's made some chucklesome short films, but his lack of experience with feature-length comedy is best exemplified by the fact that, for the first time I'm aware of in her movie career, Garofalo just isn't funny here. In his low-key way, though, Wilson sometimes is. The brother (and deft straight man) of ``Bottle Rocket'' fireball fireball, very bright meteor leaving a trail in the sky that can remain visible for several minutes; often a distinct sound, perhaps caused by very low frequency radio waves, is associated with it. Owen Wilson, Luke gets a good bead on Andy as an unembarrassed loser who's not only comfortable with his passive personality, but knows how to work it to his advantage. It's not exactly a vivid style of comedy, but it's enjoyably sneaky enough to give ``Dog Park'' the occasional and much-needed bite. The fact The film: ``Dog Park'' (R; sex, nudity, language). The stars: Luke Wilson, Natasha Henstridge, Kathleen Robertson, Janeane Garofalo, Bruce McCulloch, Mark McKinney. Behind the scenes: Written and directed by Bruce McCulloch. Produced by Susan Cavan. Released by New Line Cinema. Running time: One hour, 30 minutes. Playing: Selected theaters. Our rating: Two stars CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Luke Wilson's loser character gives ``Dog Park'' some levity lev·i·ty n. pl. lev·i·ties 1. Lightness of manner or speech, especially when inappropriate; frivolity. 2. Inconstancy; changeableness. 3. The state or quality of being light; buoyancy. . |
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