Aanna Wilton K I was looking for a heart warming movie for Christmas, couse i was tired of that nonsense sh*t that they give us in the television... So i was looking for a Jeff Bridges movie, just out of nowhere, it was a hunch :D The fact that a troubled man played by Jeff gets a trouble dog just sounded an interesting personality experiment. This movie was eye catching from the very first moment! I usually watch movie with playing on my tablet with my favorite game, but this time i had to take it down, and smile. A real dog-man relationship.And it teaches us something: how to accept someone else with the bad side, without changing him/her. No one need to change, we need to learn how to live together. It we all would be the same we could not make a difference, you would not be able to recognize anyone, couse everyone would be the exact same... Ugh...And the other lesson is how to learn to ask for help. And how to accept it! It is not easy to admit that you need someone else, couse you cannot make it on your own, it may ruins your pride. But we are mortal living things. Living together :) We still need to learn how to do it.So, it is a great Christmas movie! It never gets old.

lexivanz Although the idea of this movie is okay, the introduction about Devon, the 'dog from hell' is so wrong. In this movie, Devon is introduced as a fearful dog who has been traumatized from the early abusive owner. However, the behavior of the scared dog doesn't really portray the trauma. Instead of being scared of his environment, Devon seems to enjoy his position as a king. Jumping on the bed, cupboards, cars and buses; stealing foods, running relentlessly and chasing people are not the character of a dog who lived in years of abuse. On the contrary, those are signs that the dog has been excessively spoiled, so he thinks he's the king - thats why he has major problems in obedience.If you understand dogs, you'll see that this movie is just so wrong. Besides the wrong development of the dog's character, the people's characters also make me clueless. There is no single clear display of a strong character here, even the dog owner himself. Some other characters seem to appear from the middle of nowhere and that makes the movie even more ridiculous.This movie is only for those who love watching dogs without understanding them.

mbschan For me the most important aspect of Jeff Bridges as an actor, is he is believable and real. I don't know if I would have rated the film any higher without his performance as Jon Katz the main character in the story. The film style is simplistic but projects a realistic view of what it's like to have a highly active and abused dog. What is most memorable to me are the few simple scenes that Jeff Bridges shares with Devon. I was so pleased that he filmmaker did not take a "Disney" format approach to the subject and presented in its true from. If there is one criticism I have with the film is that I'm never explained the psyche of the main character Jon Katz. Why is he stubborn and unyielding and refusing to listen to other people's advice. We are told that he is an "mad" by the trainer but there is no evidence or background to support this. These to me are minor points but worth mentioning. In all it was a very believable and realistic approach to the subject.

Brigid O Sullivan (wisewebwoman) Jeff Bridges can do no wrong in my book, he is a brilliant, underplaying actor who catches a role and runs with it. He didn't let me down in this movie.I could relate to it on many levels, having adopted a rescue - part collie - myself and it took two years for her to bond with me. But when she did it was like a marriage.'A Dog Year', based on Jon Katz's book, tells the story of a man suffering from a midlife crisis and writer's block, who adopts a crazy abused dog who is completely out of control. The story is basically how they both evolve into full beings and nurture each other back to a balanced life.Jon's other two dogs, two golden labs, are perfectly trained and some of the funniest scenes in the film revolve around their appalled dignity as they watch Devin, the dog from hell, run amok. Jon runs away with Devin to a phoneless farm and slowly assimilates into socializing with the country folk as he and Devin work out the kinks and hurts in their relationship with each other.It's a lovely little film on many levels. Jeff embodies the role and even though he is angry and unlovable, just like Devin, there is a spark of his innate kindness underlying his every action.7 out of 10 from me. Worth catching for any dog lover.