Lasse Hallström once again provides theater-goers with some food for thought in A Dog's Purpose. Of course, the food tastes better out of the trash and bacon from under the table is just the best.

| Aug 26, 2021

It's a safe family film that's a heart tugger for dog lovers.

| Sep 4, 2019

The problem with that premise is you have to watch a dog die 5 times, which is like Marley and Me times 5.

| Original Score: C | Mar 12, 2019

This film fails to earn a single emotional reaction of its own merit. Instead it preys on sadness offering little in return but misery and saccharine sentimentality.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Mar 4, 2019

Manipulative dog-friendly drama.

| Original Score: C- | Feb 24, 2019

Indeed, we will tear up when Bailey dies (again and again), we will squeal at his return as a puppy, we will also scowl and hate humans when they deserve it. But we will not be tricked into liking a film simply because of these additions.

| Feb 19, 2019

A Dog's Purpose is a movie with a good heart telling a well-intentioned story, but the constant tugging of heartstrings ultimately results in a fraying that significantly lessens the overall impact of the film.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Feb 13, 2019

A great big cream puff of a movie: not terribly ambitious, but undeniably sweet. It's a little bit scary, a little bit sad, a little bit sappy and a whole lot adorable.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 9, 2019

Contrived and emotionally manipulative, with plotlines you'll guess within the first few minutes; but sometimes you just want to enjoy a cathartic emotional wallow while watching puppies with adorable floppy ears bouncing joyously through a cornfield.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 20, 2018

The narrative is pretty interesting and it's nice to see a dog tell us his story. There are a few emotional moments that will make you hide your tear-stained face...

| Nov 7, 2018

Far from fun for all ages. It's a film where the tone is all over the place, with some elements that really don't mesh together at all.

| Nov 3, 2018

It often feels that you could see Hallström talking to a young child repeatedly saying, "Do you like that dog? Do you think it's cute? Well it's going to die!"

| Original Score: 1/5 | Nov 1, 2018

An overall harmless and heartwarming film that will tug at the heartstrings of kids, their parents, and dog lovers everywhere.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 30, 2018

Yes its sweet, dramatic, emotional and manipulative stuff from animal lover Lasse Hallström. Yes it is a shameless tearjerker and catnip for dog lovers. I am a cat person and I don't often cry at movies but this one got me. And I feel better for it.

| Aug 24, 2018

This is the sort of movie I'd have loved as a boy. It's cute and fine for kids and adults alike. Except for that dying dog motif.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Aug 24, 2018

I bow to few people when it comes to soppiness over dogs, but one of them is Lasse Hallstrom, the director of Hachi: A Dog's Tale, and now this heartstrings-tugging mushfest.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 23, 2018

There is no need to re-litigate the controversy that sprang up around the alleged mistreatment of a dog actor in this film. A Dog's Purpose is lame enough that you should stay away regardless.

| Dec 19, 2017

An ode to (doggy) life. [Full review in Spanish]

| Dec 7, 2017

Anyway, the movie tries so desperately hard to be emotional, intense, thought-provoking, funny, and more that the finished product is beyond rushed and wholly disjointed

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 5, 2017

A Dog's Purpose is a sentimental tearjerker.

| Nov 20, 2017