Must Love Dogs

Cast: Diane Lane, John Cusack, Dermot Mulroney, Elizabeth Perkins, Stockard Channing, Christopher Plummer
Director: Gary David Goldberg
Screenplay: Gary David Goldberg (based on the novel by Claire Cook)
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Rated: M moderate sexual reference
Running Time: Minutes

The Hardest Trick Is Making Them Stay.

Synopsis:
Based on the best-selling book by Claire Cook, and written and directed by two-time Emmy Award winner Gary David Goldberg, 'Must Love Dogs' follows the comic, bumpy and ultimately rewarding journey of a woman cautiously rediscovering romance and learning to trust her own instincts again. Because, as her family enthusiastically reminds her, it's never a good idea to give up on love.

My Verdict:
Preschool teacher Sarah Nolan (Diane Lane) has been divorced for 8 months, which her family think is far too long and that she should at the very least be dating again. Coming from a close, caring family, headed by the widowed patriarch Bill (Christopher Plummer), Sarah is matched up with would-be suitors with her acerbic sister Carol (Elizabeth Perkins) placing Sarah's details on a dating website. Sarah isn't sure she's ready for a relationship but placates her family to some degree by embarking on several dates and also finds herself attracted to a parent of one of her students, Bob Connor (Dermot Mulroney).

One of the on-line dates involves the also recently divorced Jake Anderson (John Cusack) and is initially a disaster but soon becomes a friendship of sorts. This is where the dogs from the title appear and includes a few cute moments with John's dog that he is caring for.

So, what we have here is a regulation boy meets girl situation where the relationship gets off to a shaky start but ultimately it becomes clear to the two participants that there is potential here for something serious after some misunderstandings and some pretty simple realisations.

'Must Love Dogs' is fairly standard romantic comedy, with none of the cast ever being extended. Diane Lane has done better but is still passable here and the same can be said for John Cusack. Christopher Plummer gets to philosophise over his womanising and his aging life, as does Stockard Channing as the vivacious Dolly.

Unfortunately there really isn't enough canine involvement as the title might suggest and although there is plenty of potential to develop the characters of the dogs, this just doesn't happen, which was a pity as some of the dogs were obviously bursting with personality. Still, 'Must Love Dogs' is a fairly light and simple romantic comedy that is easy to watch, often predictable and doesn't really offer much bite.

Rating : **½

Christina Bruce