Everyone knows the cat is really man's best friend and that dogs are slobbering buffoons that bark too loudly and far too frequently and
poop
all over the yard rather than in kitty litter (but buy the wrong kitty litter and behold the felines dropping their lovelies everywhere
but
in the litter as a form of protest). OK, OK, settle down, dog lovers, it's all good. The truth is that dogs can be just as cute, oftentimes more of a loyal
friend, and more
likely not to cower in fear when a stranger comes into the house or, worse, when they encounter someone who means harm to their master. They
aid the blind, sniff out
bombs, and keep the plastic chew toy industry in business. Indeed, nothing can get between master and dog. It can be a beautiful relationship, but
what
happens when a dog gets between a husband and a wife? And then what happens when the animal goes missing under the husband's
watch? That's the crux of Director Lawrence Kasdan's (Grand Canyon) Darling Companion, a movie about how
something that goes missing can lead to togetherness and the reemergence of long-dormant feelings. It strives to be the next great feel-good flick
but
stumbles its way through a string of wishy-washy elements that leave the movie lacking heart and wanting in greater purpose and depth beyond
the
superficial.
Found.
A depressed and distraught Beth Winter (Diane Keaton, Annie Hall) is returning from the airport after saying her goodbyes to
a newborn
family member. She's distracted from her sorrows when she spies a wounded dog on the side of a busy freeway. She stops to tend to the animal, a
bleeding and slightly angry but beautiful dog with which she forms an instant bond. The police are no help and it'll be hours before animal control
can arrive, so she takes it upon herself to take the animal home, tend to its wounds, and clean it up. Its presence is something of a surprise to her
her husband Joseph (Kevin Kline, A Fish Called Wanda), a man engrossed in his job as a back surgeon
and who, as Beth
sees it, doesn't often have the time or even a kind word for his wife. A year passes. The family has kept the dog, Beth's daughter has married the
veterinarian, and everything is going fine, until one day the dog they've named "Freeway" runs away while under Joseph's watch. Now, a frantic
search ensues that involves the entire family and several others, too. Freeway's picture is plastered all over town, his name is called on the local
radio station, and the family -- and Beth in particular -- will not rest until Freeway is returned safely home. Can the incident bring the family closer
together, or will the dog's absence only widen the growing chasm between Beth and Joseph?
Darling Companion has "tearjerker" written all over it, but the flimsy script and largely forgettable characters will leave eyes dry, no matter
how the story turns out in the end, how close or distant the people become, whether the animal is found safe and sound or otherwise. Darling
Companion is really a journey of self-discovery more so than it is a tale of an expedition to locate a missing pet. Certainly that's what drives the
story, but Lawrence Kasdan's picture aims to find new and rekindled love and emotions and missing senses of fondness and togetherness and reset
priorities in the search for what the filmmakers certainly hoped would be the next animal to grab America's heartstrings, Freeway. The movie aims
for
a dramatic undertone and strives to mix the melodrama with the tearjerker and the charmer. It doesn't fail completely, but it plays out as rather
straightforward and without much real, evident heart behind it. It's not disingenuous and it means well, but it fails to elicit the sort of emotions a
movie of this sort should, whether when the animal goes missing or when an absent romance is rekindled. It's the story of personal growth and
discovery within the confines of a shared goal, a pleasant spin on the coming-of-age tale in which "age" isn't adolescence into adulthood but rather
adulthood into maturity and a rediscovery of what really matters in life. The picture efforts to intermix drama, comedy, and character moments, not
failing at any but never really making a cohesive entity from all.
The characters are not all that engaging or particularly original or memorable. The conflict that stems from a man obsessed with work and a
woman who finds a new obsession to take his place doesn't truly pull the audience in, though the film does slowly but surely (and expectedly) shrink
the divide as they meet in the middle and rediscover who they are as a unit through the prism of the dog's absence. The actors do well to capture
the essence of their characters, at least as much essence as the script provides. The movie offers one of the best casts of the year, a collection of
some of Hollywood's elder statesmen as well as a nice assortment of younger talent. The cast chemistry is solid, whether on the chase together or
in
groups, whether dealing with rugged terrain and inclement weather or moments of playful adventure, such as during a run-in with a grizzled
mountain man, his dogs, and his shotgun, a man who doesn't take too kindly to strangers or the gift of a bottle of scotch. The movie is beautifully
photographed against
some stunning
Utah vistas (standing in for Colorado), small towns and mountains and wooded backdrops alike shot so naturally and detailed so crisply that the
audience will want to jump through the screen and aid in the search, if only to breathe the fresh air and soak in the gorgeous landscape.
Darling Companion features another magnificent 1080p transfer from Sony. The digital photography can be a hair flat and a touch glossy and
light banding can spread out over some of the bright, very light gray Western skies, but there's some truly astounding visuals to be enjoyed throughout
the film. The image enjoys pure, rich Colorado (Utah) colors, with marvelously pronounced greens and some bright, even, and eye-catching colors seen
on a plane and an ambulance near film's end. The image handles warm woods, earthen plains, and snowy mountaintops with equal precision. Detail is
usually exquisite, with accurate facial textures that don't lack complexity even in the relatively flat HD video source. Outdoor terrain sparkles and rough
wooden accents around homes and on trees dazzle. Flesh tones can veer towards a slightly warm push and blacks can appear the slightest bit overly
bright at times, but this is, for the most part, a dazzling transfer from Sony.
Darling Companion arrives on Blu-ray with a balanced, pleasing, immersive, and natural DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 losses soundtrack. Smooth,
pure music plays easily over the opening titles, enjoying effortless spread -- to the sides and into the back -- with natural clarity and balanced volume,
characteristics which carry through the entire's film's musical elements. Ambience is handled beautifully throughout. Whether the light background din
of an airport, gently passing traffic, small-town atmospherics, rolling waters in a stream, or pleasing woodland sounds, the track easily and effortlessly
immerses the listening audience in its country locations. Chapter twelve introduces potent, rolling thunder and heavy, driving rain, both of which
combine to create the prototypical "dark and stormy night" atmosphere. Dialogue is clean and even, delivered from the center speaker and without
interference from other sounds or music. This is a very good, natural presentation that doesn't have Action movie muscle but does integrate all of its
elements with commendable ease.
Several supplements find a home on this Darling Companion Blu-ray release. There's a commentary track and several featurettes
to enjoy.
Audio Commentary: Writer/Director Lawrence Kasdan, Writer/Executive Producer Meg Kasdan, and Actor Kevin Kline discuss filming
locales, the cast, the real-life inspiration for the story, the canine performances, tales from the set, and plenty more. This is a fairly basic but amiable,
well-spoken,
and informative track. Fans will want to give it a listen. With optional English, Portuguese, and Spanish subtitles.
Darling Companion: Behind the Scenes (1080p, 4:56): Cast and crew briefly cover the plot, the performances, and the themes.
Behind the Scenes: Lawrence Kasdan (1080p, 5:02): Cast and crew talk up Kasdan's qualities, his films, and the "unofficial trilogy" that
is The Big Chill, Grand Canyon, and Darling Companion.
Finding Freeway: Dog People (1080p, 3:34): Animal Trainer Steve Solomon and Dog Handler Sarah Cole discuss the film's canine
performers while Meg Kasdan recounts the true story behind the film. The piece concludes with cast and crew talking about their own dogs.
On the Red Carpet: New York Premiere (1080p, 2:42): Behind the scenes at the film's premiere.
It wouldn't be right to call Darling Companion "shallow," but it's a pleasant movie with a good bit of promise but not much substance. The
characters are
fairly weak even as they are nicely acted. The dynamics are stale and the resolutions rather predictable. The story of the missing dog as it is told here
just doesn't elicit
much of an emotional response, nor do the character developments. It's a beautifully photographed picture to be sure with several good, fun
moments, but audiences hoping for more drama and more of a tearjerking story might be disappointed. Sony's Blu-ray release of Darling
Companion does offer exceptional video and audio. This release also contains a good assortment of extra content. Worth a rental.
In August, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will bring Darling Companion to Blu-ray. Filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan's first feature since 2003, this dramedy tells the story of a couple whose search for their missing dog turns into a journey of self-discovery. Darling ...
