Molly Shannon aces her performance as Peggy, an underappreciated secretary who buys donuts for everyone in the office and lends a sympathetic ear to coworkers and family members alike. Peggy’s world of flannel pajamas and nights spent eating over the kitchen counter next to the dog is shattered when her beloved pet, Pencil, dies suddenly from toxic poisoning.
After Peggy loses Pencil, she re-channels her grief by focusing her energy towards animal activism campaigns; as well as developing feelings for the strangely asexual pet trainer Newt (Peter Sarsgaard), and fostering an increasing hatred for her Guns & Ammo toting neighbor (John C. Reilly).
When the well-meaning, but non-understanding people in her world start to disappoint her, Peggy begins the slow process of unraveling, finally hitting the point of certified crazy right before the movie’s climax. This is when the “Year of the Dog” can feel uneven- although Peggy is clearly a sympathetic character whom the audience is meant to root for, her breaking point has her doing some clearly disturbing things, such as driving her young niece and nephew to a chicken slaughtering facility to warn against the dangers of corporate farming.
Peggy’s breakdowns with the people around her have some charming, funny and touching moments, but they are far outnumbered by unsettling ones. As the tension in the movie slowly rises and it becomes clear that this character who started out so wholesomely is on the brink of doing something truly awful, the film transforms from a sweet comedy to a troubling look at the social tendencies of individuals who value the company of animals over humans.
That Peggy’s grief is real is undeniable. That she turns to dogs when her friends and family let her down is understandable (the supporting cast is excellent at providing portraits of flawed but humorous individuals- from Regina King as a man-crazy coworker and default best friend to Laura Dern as a judgmental and neurotic sister-in-law). But the motivations behind Peggy’s complete breakdown are hard to follow, as is the ambivalent ending to the movie.
Still, “Year of the Dog” provides what so many movies- romantic comedy or otherwise- do not: a look into the inner life of a character who feels real. Peggy’s life isn’t glamorous and her romantic predicaments won’t be tied up neatly in 90 minutes, but she’s still a woman worth watching. Especially for anyone who has ever loved and lost…a dog.
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