Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- melancholic
- unsettling
- reflective evening
- indie film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film inventive and darkly funny, praising its comic performances and existential treatment of loneliness while noting tonal uncertainty and an unfocused path toward redemption.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Peggy's mourning for Pencil develops into veganism, animal-rights advocacy, and a consuming campaign to save animals.
The comedy is repeatedly balanced against Peggy's loneliness, grief, and deteriorating mental health.
Peggy's efforts to rescue dogs and involve her family expand until her work, relationships, and psychological stability are threatened.
Pencil is Peggy's central relationship, and the loss and replacement of that bond drives the entire narrative.
Films like Year of the Dog, and why
Welcome to the Dollhouse
shared offbeat comedy, emotional loneliness, and a protagonist pursuing an unconventional path toward connection
The Squid and the Whale
shared darkly comic tone, outsider protagonist, and uneasy examination of ordinary suburban life
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
shared animal-centered premise, gentle humor, and bittersweet exploration of companionship and personal change
Ghost World
shared eccentric character comedy, melancholy, and an emotionally isolated adult searching for belonging
Movie Details
- Director
- Mike White
- Release Date
- 2007-04-13
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 5.5 / 10 (75)
Cast
- Molly Shannon
- Laura Dern
- Regina King
- Tom McCarthy
- Josh Pais
- John C. Reilly
- Peter Sarsgaard
- Dale Godboldo
- Liza Weil
- Amy Schlagel
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Year of the Dog about?
- After losing her beloved dog, a lonely office worker channels her grief into animal activism, forcing her fragile life and relationships toward unsettling transformation.
- What is Year of the Dog like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Year of the Dog as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Year of the Dog violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Year of the Dog as mild.
- What did critics think of Year of the Dog?
- Critics broadly found the film inventive and darkly funny, praising its comic performances and existential treatment of loneliness while noting tonal uncertainty and an unfocused path toward redemption.
- Which films are like Year of the Dog?
- Films with a similar feel include Welcome to the Dollhouse, The Squid and the Whale, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, and Ghost World.
- How long is Year of the Dog?
- Year of the Dog runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch Year of the Dog?
- In United States, Year of the Dog is available to rent or buy from JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
