A Boy and His Dog | | Cast : | Don Johnson, Jason Robards | | Director : | L.Q. Jones | | Studio : | First Run Features | | Format : | Color, Widescreen | | Released Date : | November , 1975 | | DVD Released Date : | November 25, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | July 22, 2005 | | Summary | hilarious, low budget tongue and cheek post WWIII | Content
 | This is a wonderful gem of a film, about the wreckage that survives in the wake of the nuclear holocaust. The young Don Johnson is the boy, and he demonstrates greater talent as an actor than any of his subsequent TV junk. He is the dog's sidekick, which is trying to educate him about American presidents (!), as they try to get along in the desolate landscape and chaos. While they do find a pocket of civilization, which the boy must explore, its horrors help them to get their priorities straight in the end.
What is so funny about this all is that it parodies the usual fuzzy companion films and just about everything else about hollywood givens and platitudes, from love to ethics. I don't want to reveal the plot here, but it is wonderfully summed up when the dog thanks the boy in the end, "I really appreciated that. Sure you don't want some?"
Warmly recommended for the sci fi buff with a sense of humor. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 16, 2005 | | Summary | Not Your Average Buddy Film | Content
| Long before Mad Max, Miami Vice, and Look Who's Talking Too comes a post-apocalyptic tale of an unusual partnership between a boy (played by Don Johnson) and his dog (voiced by Tim McIntire.) The dog grumbles about not getting any food while the boy grumbles about not getting any. Oh yeah, they also happen to communicate with each other telepathically. Strange? You bet!
Set in 2024 A.D. following World War IV, the pair survive by scavenging a desert wasteland for food, stealing what they can. Meanwhile, they are secretly monitored by shadowy members of an underground community who have more sinister plans in mind.
Filmed in 1975 on a low budget (the sets consist of junkyards emptied into the desert near Barstow), the picture succeeds because it is visually compelling throughout. I know people who love this film and others who hate it, but I have yet to find one person who has shut it off before watching it in its entirety. The makeup and special effects are deliberately awful, adding to the cheese factor, and the ending doesn't disappoint. If you're looking for something offbeat, you can't go wrong here. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 07, 2005 | | Summary | Yeah Baby | Content
| I haven't seen this movie in about 20 years and I still remember it to this day, it saved my life (and my dog).
I was dating a little wanna be rich girl years ago when she crossed the line. I was going to move in with her and she wanted me to put my dog "down" as she already had a dog and we didn't need two. Well, great sex is hard to give up, BUT, when it comes to a boy and his dog, eventually the spinal fluids take over.
And believe it or not, that pretty much sums up this movie....
I wonder where that girl is today. I also wonder how many have traded their faithful pups for manipulating woman?
Stand by your dog men.....he's good for ya...
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| Rating | | | Date | April 25, 2005 | | Summary | A one-of-a-kind cult classic | Content
| "A Boy And His Dog" is definately a cult classic, but defies being more neatly categorized beyond that genre. It's been labeled alternately and collectively as being "misogynistic", "the greatest Science Fiction movie ever made", "black comedy", and as a "cross between George Orwell and Mel Brooks" (the last description is my personal favorite), to list a few. Although it is true that the film is rather misogynistic, I don't find this a fault; the film is supposed to be portraying a terrible, possible future reality. And it may not be nice, folks.
"A Boy And His Dog" was directed by L.Q. Jones, a character bit actor favored by Sam Peckinpah for his westerns, and is based on the novella of the same name by Sci-Fi legend Harlan Ellison (who by all accounts loved the film version).
It takes place in the year 2024, after WWIV has ravaged the earth's civilization, rendering it into a post-apocalyptic desert, where humans have become complete scavengers. A very young, relatively unknown Don Johnson (way before his days in TV's "Miami Vice") stars as Vic, a young "solo" as the loners are called, trying to stay alive in this post-atomic desert of a world. Veteran actor Jason Robards appears in a small part, as a favor to Jones. Vic's companion, friend and mentor is a sheepdog named Blood. The dog, named Tiger in real life, was a very popular animal actor of the times, an extremely well-trained and appealing performer, and in fact was the family dog on the TV show "The Brady Bunch."
Vic and Blood share a special bond, and the two communicate telepathically.
Don't laugh at that last remark; it's done very well in the film.
An element that could have ruined the film if not done carefully is, however, handled perfectly. Although it was suggested that animation be used to make it appear as if the dog's mouth is moving, thankfully none was used, and Tiger's masterful "acting", combined with the scruffy, gravelly, world-weary, old-west "voice" provided by Tim McIntire makes for some of the best acting in the film, and some of the best lines. Blood literally sniffs out women for Vic to have sex with, helps Vic be on the lookout for other packs of scavengers trying to kill him and each other in the ongoing fight over food and women, and Vic does the shooting, and the foraging for food. In addition the two are best friends, with Blood being the most intelligent by far. It seems that in the future, people have become the real animals.
The elements of caustically dark humor and dry dialogue (the dog gets the best lines) helps carry the film. And while this is in no way "the best Science Fiction movie ever made", in my opinion, it's certainly a great one, along with others of its time such as "Soylent Green". There are practically no special effects; the scenery and sets are cheap and minimalist, letting the characters and script tell the story, for the most part. This isn't a happy-happy-joy-joy overly-laden with special effects film like many of the ones made these days.
In case this whole scenario seems reminiscent of another film, "Mad Max", it's true that "A Boy And His Dog" inspired "Mad Max". I myself find this film to be superior, even if, and maybe in spite of, the fact that it is far less politically correct.
WARNING: SPOILER FOLLOWS!
When Vic conveniently meets a young (and suspiciously clean and friendly) woman named Quilla June (portrayed by Susanne Benton), she pulls him in and the lure of frequent sex with her blinds him to Blood's warnings. So when Quilla June disappears Vic follows her to her underground community of Topeka, where he finds a warped reality of futuristic country living, combined with creepy clown makeup and aw-shucks country clothing. Its trio of self-anointed rulers is called The Committee, (this is where Jason Robards comes in), and they have a plan in mind for the young, able-bodied Vic. This all makes for a riveting scenario that's part "Stepford Wives", part "Hee-Haw", and more than a pinch of "The Twilight Zone". Beyond this, I will say no more except that the ending of the film is one of the best parts of the entire movie.
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| Rating | | | Date | April 13, 2005 | | Summary | This has to be the absolute worst film ever! | Content
| I had to watch this movie for a school project, and I have to say; Its bad. The story it's self isn't to terrible, but it does needs some work. Everything else in the movie,whether its the acing or what ever, is however awful. I don't want to sound like a reluctant student trying to trash a film, but after watching the movie; I felt like I had wasted two hours of my life. I especially didn't like the ending when the two main characters show how much they care for each other. Come-on would anyone in their right mind, feed their dog, their friend; just because they have a love-hate relation ship with the K9? I wouldnt. |
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