My Dog Skip (1999)

73% of critics liked it
(82 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(44,824 ratings)

The popular memoir by Pulitzer prize-winning author Willie Morris became this family comedy-drama about a boy and his dog. Young Willie Morris (Frankie Muniz) is a shy eight-year-old in 1942 Yazoo, MS, who is more comfortable reading than playing sports. A target for local bullies, Willie's only… More The popular memoir by Pulitzer prize-winning author Willie Morris became this family comedy-drama about a boy and his dog. Young Willie Morris (Frankie Muniz) is a shy eight-year-old in 1942 Yazoo, MS, who is more comfortable reading than playing sports. A target for local bullies, Willie's only real pal is his older next-door neighbor Dink Jenkins (Luke Wilson), once the town's living sports legend and a big brother figure to Willie, an only child. When Dink is shipped overseas for service in World War II, Willie's mother Ellen (Diane Lane) finally forces his gruff father Jack (Kevin Bacon) to allow into the family a pet dog, a Jack Russell terrier named Skip. The smart and playful Skip gets his owner into a series of adventures on the baseball field and with a band of moonshiners, quickly turning Willie into a popular, accepted kid who even wins the affections of the school's prettiest girl, Rivers Applewhite (Caitlin Wachs). In the meantime, Dink returns from war branded a coward for an incident that occurred in combat but finds an unexpected ally in the normally taciturn Jack, a fellow veteran. Harry Connick Jr. narrated as the adult Willie; the role of Skip was played in later scenes by Moose, the pooch star of television's Frasier. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Jay Russell, Jay W. Russell
Written By: Gail Gilchriest
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Mar 3, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Jul 11, 2000
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

A.O. Scott, New York Times
They may find themselves mystified and a little bored by a movie designed to leave their adult companions misty-eyed.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
This is such a sweet, healthy and refreshingly old-fashioned movie that there's a temptation to oversell it.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Taps into just enough of that connection between humans and dogs to make even jaded cat-lovers a little moist in the eyes.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
From the very first words you hear in My Dog Skip, you know you have hit a rare, precious breed of movie, one that honors and rejoices in the language.
Sean Means, Film.com
The formula may be an old one, but it's still a good one.
Louis B. Parks, Houston Chronicle
Many will find their tender emotion buttons bruised from the constant battering of the filmmakers' oversized pointers.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
No matter what your age, you'll want to run out and get a dog. (Blu-ray Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...a gem of a movie for children and adults, despite its clichés.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Great boy and dog tale; too intense for some kids.
Nick Rogers, Suite101.com
Not a mawkish dying-dog tearjerker, "My Dog Skip" carries a touch of Mark Twain, with quasi-dangerous tall tales and awareness of a gap between childhood and boyhood. Plus, as it's said of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," there's cussin' in it.
Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Features two irresistible lead characters -- and you can't always say that about a movie.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
So riddled with live-action Disney movie clichés that I kept waiting for Cruella de Ville to show up and threaten to skin the dog alive.

Read all 12 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lucas M

Cute, but no recommendable movie.
KJ P

This true story has been re-created for one reason only, to touch the hearts of all ages and to feel sympathy for a boy and his dog as he faces the challenges that every boy his age faces. This film is brilliantly acted, well casted, good-hearted, family-friendly, funny, and will have… More
This true story has been re-created for one reason only, to touch the hearts of all ages and to feel sympathy for a boy and his dog as he faces the challenges that every boy his age faces. This film is brilliantly acted, well casted, good-hearted, family-friendly, funny, and will have you in tears by the time the credits role. This film touched me in ways that many movies have been incapable of touching me in. There may be a few scenes that seem a little undeveloped and rushed, but that is not enough to stop this film from being what it is: amazing! I feel some charcters (particularly the bullies) are a little too quirky for such a heart-felt story, but this film knows what it is trying to accomplish, and does it with ease. It will make you think twice about life, and just how precious every living thing in life truly is. Fantastic Film!
Thomas B

Very touching and emotional to the max. Full review later.
erika b

One of the best dog films that I ever saw.
Lewis C

This movie wasn't for me. I'm not saying that it's bad, but I had to force myself to finish watching it. Boring, boring, boring. I'm a Mississippi boy and I love dogs, but the level of sappiness in My Dog Skip nearly overwhelmed me. I'm clearly not a part of… More
This movie wasn't for me. I'm not saying that it's bad, but I had to force myself to finish watching it. Boring, boring, boring. I'm a Mississippi boy and I love dogs, but the level of sappiness in My Dog Skip nearly overwhelmed me. I'm clearly not a part of its target audience.
Jason O

"My Dog Skip" is the heartfelt story about a 9-year-old only-child named Willie (Frankie Muniz), and his pet dog, Skip. Before getting Skip for a pet, Willie is shy, lonely, and he's struggling in other ways such as being picked on by bullies. What Willie needs most at… More
"My Dog Skip" is the heartfelt story about a 9-year-old only-child named Willie (Frankie Muniz), and his pet dog, Skip. Before getting Skip for a pet, Willie is shy, lonely, and he's struggling in other ways such as being picked on by bullies. What Willie needs most at this point in his life is a friend. And Skip will turn out to be much more than just a normal friend. "My Dog Skip" is one of the best movies I've seen in awhile without a doubt. Not only is it a story of a boy and his dog, it's a story about coming of age, friendship, how many of us grow up then want to be a kid again, and much much more. Usually, I'm not all that crazy about a movie being overloaded with subplots, but "My Dog Skip" is an exception. There are many subplots such as Frankie's idol going into World War II, Frankie being picked on by bullies and struggling with baseball, and more. While the target audience of "My Dog Skip" is probably more geared toward kids, I really liked the movie a lot. I'm only 21, so my childhood hasn't been over for that long, but I can honestly say that "My Dog Skip" made me feel like a kid again while I was watching it, and that's about the best thing it could've done. Also, I'm not an only-child, but my parents got a divorce when I wasn't but eight, and I didn't have any siblings to struggle through the divorce alongside me, so I can relate a lot to what Frankie was going through both before and after he met his best friend named Skip. If you have any kids (especially only-childs or divorce-stricken ones), or if you're a kid at heart, do them or yourself a favor and purchase "My Dog Skip." Not only is it one of the best family movies to come along in awhile, it's one of the best movies in any genre that you could purchase. NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2001. Wow, I remember loving the movie, but that old review of mine back when I was barely old enough to drink makes me want to see this again to see how it holds up!
Dan S

Very well done movie, but I will never see it again, way to freaking depressing.
Lafe F

This was a beautiful movie about a boy and his dog. Really touching. I cried at the end. I love that dog!
Drew S

Sap sap sap sap sap sap sap. You know Frankie Muniz has led a sad career when stuff like this is its apex.
Leigh R

So sweet.
Cameron J

It's kind of odd seeing Kevin Bacon as the stern '40s father the very morning after I watched him force a woman to shoot-up while her husband watches in horror. Man, can I talk about a family film without comparing something to a mature theme in an R-rated movie? Well, at… More
It's kind of odd seeing Kevin Bacon as the stern '40s father the very morning after I watched him force a woman to shoot-up while her husband watches in horror. Man, can I talk about a family film without comparing something to a mature theme in an R-rated movie? Well, at least it's less messed-up than when I told my mother about what the family probably could have found in the cage after they removed that oxygen-constricting wrapping paper. Ah, dead dog jokes, keeping the awkward conversation industry alive for many years. Seriously though, "My Dog Skip", though cheesy, sentimental and periodically slow, is entertaining, well-writting, well-paced, tear-jerking and ultimatley, a heartwarming family classic.
Dannielle A

I remember not liking it that much when I first saw it at 15 years old in a drive in theatre. I gave it another chance at 23, and I still don't care for it.
Juan C

the ultamite family movie! you actually fell the main character and the mood of the film! no family film ever did that to me. frankie muniz is a natural born actor. this is a family movie you'll never forget! A+
Andrew F

It is a very good, well-done movie that is really sad.
Sarah P

Pretty much any sad movies about dogs I'm a sucker for. This one is no exception.
Linda K

A cute children's film!
nathometer

A cute and simple movie.

Read all 17 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Frankie Muniz as Willie Morris

            Diane Lane as Ellen Morris

            Luke Wilson as Dink Jenkins

            Kevin Bacon as Jack Morris

            Caitlin Wachs as Rivers Applewhite

            Bradley Coryell as Big Boy Wilkinson

            Daylan Honeycutt as Henjie Henick

            Cody Linley as Spit McGee

            Peter Crombie as Junior Smalls

            Clint Howard as Millard

            Harry Connick Jr. as Narrator

            Enzo the Dog as Skip

            Moose the Dog as Skip (older)

            Lucille Ewing as Aunt Maggie

            Jordan Williams as Lt. Hartman

            Winston Groom as Mr. Goodloe

            Bill Butler as Barney

            Mark Beech as Army Buddy

            Susan Carol Davis as Mrs. Jenkins

            David Pickens as Mr. Jenkins

            Polly Craig as Grandmother Mamie

            John Stiritz as Grandfather Percy

            Elizabeth Rice as Rivers' Friend

            Nate Bynum as Man on Street

            Stacie Doublin as Woman on Street

            Katherine Shoulders as Mrs. Applewhite

            Nathaniel Lee as Sammy

            Joann Blankenship as Miss Abbott

            Hunter Hays as Accordion Boy

            Cannon Smith as Bible Boy

            Brian Witt as Armpit Boy

            Jerome Jerald as Waldo Grace

            Stuart Greenwell as Hunter

            Harry Hood as Baseball Coach

            Gordon Swaim as Umpire

            Owen Boutwell as Spectator

            Chaon Cross as Spectator

            Jim Fraiser as Veterinarian

            Graham Gordy as Pump Jockey

            Michael Berkshire as Older Willie

            Wayne Wimberly as Older Spit

            Josh Yates as Older Henjie

            James Thweat as Older Big Boy

            John M. Sullivan II as Hunter

            Courtney Brown as Snake Girl

            Harry Connick
            
See full cast