A Dog Year (2008)

34% of users liked it
(373 ratings)

A writer in the midst of an existential crisis finds his life transformed after adopting an abused border collie in this emotionally uplifting comedy. Based on author Jon Katz's best-selling memoir of the same name, A Dog Year opens to find the writer at an emotionally precarious stage in his life.… More A writer in the midst of an existential crisis finds his life transformed after adopting an abused border collie in this emotionally uplifting comedy. Based on author Jon Katz's best-selling memoir of the same name, A Dog Year opens to find the writer at an emotionally precarious stage in his life. The proud owner of two laid back Labrador Retrievers, Jon (Bridges) finds his staid existence shaken up as the twitchy new companion proves much more than a handful. Later, as Jon struggles to overcome a bad case of writer's block, his daughter Emma (Lauren Ambrose) returns home from college for a visit, and him know exactly how much she disapproves of his current living conditions. Finally inspired to make a change for the better, Jon relocates to a quiet farmhouse and seeks out the help of a compassionate dog trainer (Lois Smith), whose patience and insight help to improve not only the condition the traumatized dog, but the outlook of its troubled owner as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 20 min.
Directed By: George LaVoo
Written By: Jon Katz, George LaVoo
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 3, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Dec 7, 2010
Studio: Picturehouse

Critic Reviews

Chuck Bowen, Slant Magazine
An okay presentation of an okay picture featuring a characteristically appealing Jeff Bridges performance.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Jeff Bridges plays an author who we get to know over a period of a year. We don't know a lot about his background going in, but it's clear that he his not exactly a people person. He adopts a border collie...and while trying to understand the dog, he starts to get a better… More
Jeff Bridges plays an author who we get to know over a period of a year. We don't know a lot about his background going in, but it's clear that he his not exactly a people person. He adopts a border collie...and while trying to understand the dog, he starts to get a better grip on his own life. Nothing earth shattering here, just a nice decent movie.
Sol C

Cute film, but could have been much better. I was surprised by the short running time for the movie. I thought it could have been 15 or 20 minutes longer. It needed a rewrite. It isn't as good as films like Marley and Me and Turner and Hootch. Jeff Bridges does an ok job in the… More
Cute film, but could have been much better. I was surprised by the short running time for the movie. I thought it could have been 15 or 20 minutes longer. It needed a rewrite. It isn't as good as films like Marley and Me and Turner and Hootch. Jeff Bridges does an ok job in the film.
Sarah P

I love movies involving dogs and animals, but somehow this one wasn't as great as I anticipated. It seemed too short and didn't get very involved. I love the dogs in it though - they are adorable!