How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog (2000) Online

We caught this film on cable last week and were shocked. No, not by the title - but how did we not hear about this movie? I'll say upfront, I'm not a Branagh fan, but I do love Robin Wright Penn. But Branagh blew me away with this performance - he's finally been given a great script by someone other than Shakespeare and run with it. The writing is smart and funny, the supporting cast is just terrific, especially the girl playing Amy. When I checked here, I saw the writer/director is the same guy who wrote Private Parts, one of my favorite films.

If I try and put my finger on what touched me the most in this movie, I guess it's that the people were all so "real" and so I ended up caring very much what happened to them all. I'd love a sequel to see what happens to them after this episode in their lives!

Who should see this film: Everyone who likes smart, funny writing and acting told in an adult way; and anyone who likes something other than the typical Hollywood blockbuster.

I really had little idea as to what this was going to be, but being a fan of Kenneth Branagh's work, and hearing that is was a bit comedic, I gave it a shot. From the very first minutes of the movie, you know that you are in for "something special". As always, his timing when delivering a humorous line and his adroit methods of playing off a co-star, are in full force here. Robin Wright does an excellent job as his usually ignored wife, and the remainder of the cast, as you will see, was well directed.

The "real" standout in this film is the dialogue. The writing is superb...so much so, that I am going to watch it again, to pick up the lines I missed while I was either laughing or savoring an exquisite film moment.

He is totally in charge of the role given him here and really does hate the neighbor's dog ( as you would too), but the dog is only a segment of what is a bigger picture of a man fighting his personal torments, and all the while, doing it with a smile.

Why there wasn't more publicity about this film is beyond me. If it is to become a "cult" classic, then so be it, but it will definitely become some kind of classic. I have written other comments on this site for movies, and consider myself an "excellent" judge of what entertains and what does not, no matter who is in it, and I heartily recommend that you get a glass of your favorite whatever, and sit back and watch a great movie unfold. I would suggest that you are older than thirty to REALLY have fun with this vehicle.

Oh yes, let the credits role after the movie ends....in a few moments there is a scene that you WILL need to see. It's just one...but it's important. Get the popcorn and turn it on. You can thank me later.

I saw this film over the weekend in the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema and thought it was terrific. Intelligently-written, staggeringly well-directed for someone making his feature film debut, with a game cast of name actors and impressive new faces -- too bad it can't find a proper distributor. It deserves to find a bigger audience (and if given the chance, it would).

Spoilers herein.

I like constructions like this:

-- Folding of narrative between what is written and the story of its writing

-- Folding of time, where moments are shuffled

-- Actors acting as actors: in this case Branagh sitting quiet while others act as his avatars

-- Lots and lots of supporting constructive symmetries: the woman without a child and the woman who doesn't want a child; the `real' Peter and his dopple; the `real' Peter and his actor; a director who directs by performing; impotence and writer's block, others.

-- Lots of intelligent wordplay including word symmetries. The most obvious of these is the symmetry of the neighbor's cur (dog) who dies, and Peter's curmudgeon (who also dies). This kind of play is deftly introduced in dialog between the two Peters, comically peppered by Branagh saying `I got nothing out of that,' after a fusilade from the other.

-- All supported by good actors. In this case our top Shakespearean, and the wife of our top film actor. These people know how to collaborate so to keep the words suspended in front of us while flowing faster than normal and syncopated oddly.

The film is about a writer struggling with his block, his wife struggling to have children and the sweet girl next door who brings life to the writer and his wife. The film is not necessarily blockbuster quality and will do better on video rentals and sales. I saw a rough cut, so I cannot comment on the sound or editing. There are funny moments, and you will love the relationship between Kenneth Brannagh's character and the little girl. Can't give away any more!

I saw this movie at the Toronto International Film Festival and it was the funniest movie I had seen in years. The writing was fantastic and the performances were excellent. Kenneth Branagh's timing of his lines were perfect and the audience (of 2000) were literally laughing so hard we were crying. Definitely thumbs up!!!!A Must see!!

I liked this movie - for a change we have here an intelligent comedy, smart dialogs, a conventional story that succeeds to almost never fall in the romantic routine. The story is set in Los Angeles. A British-American play-writer goes through a mid-life, mid-career, mid-relationship crisis. He is happily married, but the couple is childless, mostly probably because he is a champion of egocentrism and does not seem to like children very much. All this changes when a neighbor with an eight-year old daughter moves in. You have indeed seen the story in many other movies, but the masterful acting of Branagh with good support from the rest of the team, the sarcastic description of the content-empty life in the artistic circles in Los Angeles, and the witty relationship between the European roots of the character and his Americanized life make the film both interesting to watch, as well as true in message. 8 out of 10 on my personal scale.

This overlooked gem is everything you want from a movie. It's funny, has great acting, and better yet - a plausible and well laid out plot! Kenneth Branagh shines as Peter, the writer with writer's block, and Robin Wright Penn is perfect as his child-hopeful wife.

The dynamics presented are new and unique, as is the humor. You'll find no tired jokes in this flick! However, I did find myself laughing heartily out loud on more than one or two occasions.

This is a great drama about middle age life, perceptions, and relationships. My advice? See this movie! It's truly great! Kenneth Branagh is one of my favorite actors, and that is how I stumbled across this film - I suggest you do the same.

Wow, what a great movie. I had to talk a friend into seeing it, and we knew nothing about it. We were not disappointed at all. It takes a little while to get rolling, but once it does, the dialogue is wittier than anything Hollywood will ever churn out. It is refreshing to see a movie that doesn't play to the lowest common denominator. The acting was perfectly executed, and the writing was some of the best this year. Robin Wright-Penn was at her best, especially in an emotionally intense argument between her and Brannagh over remarks he made to the neighbor. And Brannagh was definitely in his element here, with some wonderfully razor-sharp dialogue that he executed perfectly. There was a handicapped child that was a bit contrived and predictable, but she was a wonderful actor and her role in the plot kept it from being trite. You just don't see writing this good in Hollywood. That fact would just boil inside you as you watch this and realize that it will never get a wide theatrical release. That is until an hysterical interview of the author (Brannagh) unfolds throughout the film. The comments he makes to the interviewer (Ros from Frasier) make light of Hollywood's blindness to anything that is not ignorant drivel and send you from the theater with a great feeling that all hope is not lost. You may have to look around, but you can still find an intelligent movie. And this is one of them.

First of all, the biggest obstacle to enjoying and appreciating this movie is the fact that the title alone is going to keep it out of most people's hands. Let's face it, when the average, discerning viewer browsing the local video store shelves comes across one called `How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog,' it immediately gets mentally shuffled into the mindbox right alongside such obtuse fare as the consummately repugnant and forgettable `Surf Nazis Must Die,' (which, by the way, is a title I never thought would issue forth from my fingertips for any reason whatsoever, but it happens to work here) or the likes. I mean, slapping on such a designation is like insisting on a strike three call with the first pitch when you're the batter. Then again, there's that old saying about judging a film by it's cover. Take `Office Space,' for example; who in a million years would have expected something as entertaining and insightful from Mike Judge, the guy who gave the world Beavis and Butthead, for crying out loud? (Still, in retrospect, Beavis and Butthead wasn't half bad...). The point is, writer/director Michael Kalesniko did himself a major disservice with his title, which may have been a shock value attempt to grab some attention that didn't really work out. But if you can overcome what for most will surely be an entirely understandable prejudice against this one, you'll be in for a treat. And in the final analysis, it points up the wisdom of not dismissing any movie out-of-hand.

Hollywood denizen Peter McGowan (Kenneth Branagh) is a successful playwright, but in the show biz tradition of `what have you done for me lately?' he is having trouble getting his latest play off to a running start. Rehearsals have begun, but even director Brian Sellars (David Krumholtz) can't seem to find the magic. And poor Peter is experiencing a heavy hit of writer's block that is preventing him from fixing it, and working out of his home doesn't seem to be the answer. Wife Melanie (Robin Wright Penn) is supportive, but they have no children of their own, and pursuant of her natural motherly instincts, she has taken on eight-year-old Amy Walsh (Suzi Hofrichter), daughter of new neighbor and single mom Trina (Lucinda Jenney), to babysit. In addition to which there is a `False Peter' (Jared Harris) roaming about the neighborhood, a fan, apparently, who has taken on Peter's identity, and to top it all off, the neighbor's dog just will not quit barking. Suffice to say Peter is not seeing the world through rose colored glasses these days, but there has to be an answer to his many and myriad dilemmas; now all he has to do is find it.

Perhaps sabotaging his own film with a title that instantly relegated it to `cult' status was Kalesniko's way of getting into his alter-ego's skin and exploring Peter's conundrum and his possible reactions. And if such was the case, it worked. Because once you give this film a chance, you'll find that it's funny, poignant and actually filled with some pretty astute insights into and observations of the human condition. This is a black comedy/drama, to be sure, but at the heart of the film there is a dramatic story that will evoke no small amount of empathy and compassion from the audience. Which is to say, with this film you get so much more than what you bargained for; it is decidedly NOT what you're expecting based on the title alone. There are a couple of instances in which Kalesniko succumbs to a bit of unnecessary low-brow humor, but it's not enough to detract from the whole. In the end, this film dips deeply into the pockets of human nature to extract the kind of sentiments (without being sentimental) rarely found in a film of this genre, and it makes a positive and lasting impression.

The role of a transplanted Brit insomniac playwright with writer's block must have seemed like a character out of a dream for Kenneth Branagh, who totally immerses himself in Peter and comes up with a winning and memorable portrayal. The character was obviously well written to begin with, but Branagh takes hold of the part and runs with it, making it entirely his own by lending the kind of depth and nuance to it that really brings Peter to life. The development of the character is effected extremely well, too, as initially, Peter is a guy who is not necessarily likable, with quirks and peccadilloes aplenty. But as the story progresses, so does Peter, and there's some tender moments along the way that are quite unexpected, given the attitude and bearing Peter starts out with. And it's the way Branagh brings his character around that makes it work; it evolves rather than coming from a sudden left turn out of nowhere. Peter finally has a `breakthrough,' and it comes from a place that is completely unanticipated. It's a solid performance, and one of the rewards that comes from successfully navigating past Kalesniko's questionable title.

Robin Wright Penn is also impressive in her role as Melanie, though it's not too much of a stretch for her artistically. But it's one of those straightforward `normal' characters that seem so easy to play they are often taken for granted (Easy? Let he among you who has acted in front of a camera without once looking at it cast the first stone). The real find here, however, is the young Hofrichter, who is endearing and totally effective as Amy, a young girl with her own challenges to overcome.

The supporting cast includes Lynn Redgrave (Edna), Peter Riegert (Larry), Johnathon Schaech (Adam), Derek Kellock (Amy's Father) and Peri Gilpin (Debra). Happening upon this film is like ordering a hamburger and being served filet mignon for the same price; and it makes `How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog' a thoroughly satisfying and fulfilling cinematic experience. Give it a try. 8/10.

How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog is a smart, funny, original comedy for grownups - a rare pleasure these days. The witticisms fly fast and furious, but Kenneth Branagh, as playwright Peter McGowan, has the verbal dexterity to toss them off naturally. It's a pleasure to be reminded of what a versatile and accomplished actor he is in non-Shakespearean roles. The main plot of the movie, which involves Peter's reluctance to have children, and his growing relationship with a neighbor child, flirts with sentimentality, but avoids it thanks to the sharp writing and performances. The style of the movie and its original, quirky subplots lift it well above the ordinary.

In my DVD collection, this film has become a staple movie to watch alone or with any visitors - heck, I think I'll start screening who I could have relationships with by whether or not she loves this movie. How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog keeps you laughing through it's entire course, with both subtle and direct wit in the dialogue, a stab at the world of theatre and LA, and to be quite honest a pretty good soundtrack of Petula Clark (Downtown!)

Kenneth Branagh acts perfectly in the role of Peter McGowan, along with a cast that works realistically and well together. The only possible remedies to bad acting would be the actors in the play McGowan's creating - let's hope they were meant to BE bad, since "a burrito with method actor filling" would not be my method of choice to describe them... All in all, this film is one of my favorite movies, ranking right up there with films like The Usual Suspects, American Beauty, Igby Goes Down, and other dark comedies... WATCH THIS FILM - LOVE IT TOO.

This film is so very well written & has such a great title that if it were to be widly distributed would be an instant hit.

I don't want to give the plot away (so I wont) but I will say that the performances are real. Branagh is superb, Wright-Penn is excellent & all concerned add to the film with out a bad apple among them.

The use of the English Language is such a welcome treat. So many people write as if the audience are idiots, & so it's refreshing to find an intelligently written, clever movie.

Please go & see this film. It's so very good.

I saw this film in Cannes and agree with bman1 except that I think it could do really well in the theaters if marketed right. It's a film that will appeal to everyone. It's a terrific script with a lot of funny scenes and the relationship between Kenneth Branagh's character and the little girl is very special. I also think it's one of Branagh's best performances - he handles both the one-liners and the dramatic scenes with ease. Robin Wright Penn is beautiful and funny and their husband/wife relationship is very realistic. I also liked the characters played by Lynn Redgrave and Johnathon Schaech.

I discovered this movie while browsing through Netflix. How I never heard about it before I don't know. But this is an excellent movie. Great cast, great writing. I liked all the story lines, which at first seemed disparate but neatly tied together by the end. Suzi Hofrichter as Amy is particularly good, but the whole cast is just wonderful. Even the uncredited Daniel Stern in a small but hilarious role. Robin Wright Penn is, as always, beautiful. And the scenes between Branagh and Peri Gilpin (of Frasier) are absolutely brilliant.

I'm now the proud owner of a copy and plan to make sure all my dates, friends and relatives see it. If you haven't yet - do. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

A little slow getting started in my opinion because the self-absorbed, cynical British writer/protagonist (Kenneth Branagh) did not initially make me think, this is someone I want to see a story about. Nor did he make me think, this is going to be a funny movie. I assumed it would be a story about something he did, rather than a story about what happened to him, and hence I wasn't much interested. His glib remarks about this and that I found only mildly amusing, and no signals were being sent about say murder, a terrorist bomb, a sexual conflict, or anything else that spoke PLOT. I was thinking, this is some indie drivel where we're supposed to be amused by this guy's sour view of life -- and that's it. (Speaking of which, at one point the protagonist's wife compares him to Andy Rooney.) Unfortunately the title contributes to this misunderstanding by suggesting a cynical comedy about how this guy overcomes the people (or animals) around him. HOWEVER ... about 30 minutes in I began to realize that what I disliked about the main character *is* the plot, the story problem, and at that point I started to get it.

Why isn't this film more popular? It's not so much a problem with the film, which is true to itself, but with audience expectations. Those of us who feed regularly at the mainstream trough don't necessarily expect such subtle (though universal) issues are going to be the point. It's like Charlie Rose when you're used to Crossfire. And of course there's no sex, or violence, or special effects -- with one exception (see title) -- anyway nothing that would catch your eye on a movie poster. Spielberg's "AI" makes a good contrast; on a similar topic, it has all the eye-popping glitz possible (if you have $100 million or so), but storywize it's simplistic and unfocused. This has a great story and nothing more -- but guess what, that's enough.

Hollywood annoys the heck outta me. Big studios release garbage, garbage, and even more garbage! I don't think there is one negative comment on this movie at the site here! Do you know how rare that is?! This is the first movie I have EVER seen on this site without a single bad comment! Why, then, doesn't this movie get a theatrical release? Is it true what we all have thought for years? Is everyone in Hollywood THIS stupid? This blind?! Anyhow...this is a great movie. Brannagh is just perfect for the role, and he's very charming (maybe one of the most charming actors around.) He has a certain kindness about him, and you can't help but be drawn to his character here. The rest of the cast is also just great, especially the young girl who I have never seen before (and I can't figure out why, since she's such a good actress.) It's a very smart film, and it's written very nicely. Even when Brannagh's character is pissed all the time in the beginning, you still can't help but like him. Then, he starts to change, and becomes warmer, and it's even easier to like him. A great story, some very funny dialogue, and intelligence...this is just a wonderful movie all-around.

I have now watched this movie about 5 times and each time I only like it more. I didn't know it had so many fans until I came on here. I thought I was the only one who knew about it and have to convince my friends (and strangers, too) to give it a look.

Though I think all the actors are very good and the movie is beautifully shot, what I love most of all is just how smart and funny it is. And the more times you see (listen to) it, you realize how every little thing pays off. What can seem like a random string of events, isn't. And all of this is done with a story that is both real and not so real at all (it is his book, after all). It also takes a lot of jabs at political correctness, which is okay by me any time.

See this movie!

Kenneth Branagh is excellent in this film. He plays a character a bit like Mike Church in Dead Again, a bit of a jerk who believing becomes a good guy. I found the comedy amazing, and the relationship with the little girl was heart wrenching. The scene where she falls when dancing and embarrasses her mother... The other "Peter" could easily be a two dimensional character, but through his conversations with Pete we see into his psyche. Even I was shocked by his behavior in the end. David Krumholz who is known for playing math genius Charlie in Numbers is hilarious as a flaming gay stage director. Robin Wright Penn is also good, although I think the hair color choice lacking. A fantastic movie.

This movie is about a cynical and satirical writer with a wife who's character is practically just the opposite of him, fun, open, lively and talkative. As they get new neighbours with a young, mildly disabled girl the story starts to unfold. It's sometimes a laugh out loud funny (witty remarks by Peter hehe ) and sometimes gives you some things to consider. Don't really have much time now, but overall the movie is well made, characters likable and the movie nicely brings them closer to the audience, you can understand them. It is a movie to watch in the evening when you don't feel like watching all that cgi and shooting and just want something more peaceful,intelligent with quite some laughs in between. Recommended.

The script gives Branagh a full range of comedy styles to work with - scathing comments, witty repartee, crude slapstick - it all works together well because the thread is coherent and always looks beyond the humor to the realistically portrayed underlying moral issues. These issues include disability and how it is experienced not only by those living with a disability but, more importantly, by those close to them. Another issue is the McGowan's differences of opinion on having children and how their growth in their relationship and themselves affects this. Laugh-lovers, however, should not despair, as the script does not degenerate into maudlin or overblown consideration of these issues - rather it deals with them as they come up, realistically, but with good doses of humor along the way, rather like in 'real life'.

This film maybe an independent one that doesnt get much attention, but if you happen to stumble across this at the video store, its an EXCELLENT one to pick up. Its light, funny, quick paced, and well acted. Too many comedies today are acted out by slapstick, talentless teenagers. This movie provides you with a chance to see one of the world's greatest dramatic actors perfect the art of quick wit and sarcasm! Its a hilarious look at real life humor!

Definitely. I wonder what is wrong with the film industry that such a good movie didn't get theatrical release. Well, at least maybe in ten years time it'll get a cult film status. Who knows.

If you haven't seen this one so far, go and get it, as it is an extremely funny and intelligent story about a playwright who is suffering from kind of creative blocade, insomnia, sex problems, and maybe in two or three years time a lung cancer, but after few meetings with a little girl in the neighborhood......

The best moments: McGowan's "conversation" with a smoking writer at the fancy dress party, McGowan being examined by the doctor (auuu), McGowan arrested by the police during the walk after telling them his name is...McGowan, interview with McGowan in some TV show and finally Kenneth Branagh as Peter McGowan (I love all those cynical ba****ds like Spacey's character in Amercan Beauty).

The only weak point is...

SPOILER ...that McGowan's attitude towards the little girl changes a bit too rapid (at least in my opinion).

If you liked "Wonder Boys" go and see this one.

8/10

This film is welcome proof that a talented filmmaker can still make an audience laugh out loud through the use of intelligent humor and well-drawn, sympathetic characters. Brannaugh and Wright-Penn are perfectly cast - and well supported by an excellent ensemble. Each character comes of age in this story, which is often funny, sometimes poignant, always satisfying. This was instant hit with audiences at Lake Placid Film Forum two weeks ago. Hope it gets picked up and into theatres. It's way better than anything that's playing in the multi-plex right now!

I rented it as a 5 day rental, not expecting much from a store that normally rents movies for 2 days. It exceeded my expectations. This comedy/drama shows a grouch of a man who actually brings sunshine to his own darkness. The co-stars do a great job and compliment this movie. Watch it and judge for yourself. This one I'd like to own.