Themes: Looking For Love, Love Triangles, Fathers and Daughters
Main Cast: Diane Lane, John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins, Christopher Plummer, Dermot Mulroney
Release Year: 2005
Country: US
Run Time: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A woman finds herself drafted into the battle of finding the perfect man in this romantic comedy. Sarah Nolan (Diane Lane) is a kindergarten teacher in her mid-thirties who is still dealing with the emotional aftermath of her divorce eight months ago. While her sisters, Christine (Ali Hillis) and Carol (Elizabeth Perkins), both think Sarah needs to start dating again, Sarah herself isn't so sure. Carol decides to force the issue by posting Sarah's photo and profile on an Internet dating site, and soon a number of seemingly eligible bachelors are sending her e-mails in hopes of a date. However, nearly every man she meets turns out to be a loser, with the exception of Jake (John Cusack), who is smart, good looking, and even brings along a dog for their walk in the park (though he doesn't tell her the pooch was borrowed for the occasion). However, Sarah also makes the acquaintance of Bob (Dermot Mulroney), the divorced father of one of her students, and she finds herself having to choose between two potentially worthwhile men. Meanwhile, Sarah's widowed father, Bill (Christopher Plummer), decides to give Internet dating a try, and lands himself a new steady in Dolly (Stockard Channing). Must Love Dogs is based on the best-selling novel of the same title by Claire Cook. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Must Love Dogs is every inch the cookie-cutter romantic comedy that's advertised, with one notable exception: It has almost nothing to do with dogs. In fact, neither lead even owns a dog, having to borrow just so they can "meet cute" in the dog park. The alternative could have been worse -- it could have been one of those flicks where pets are worshipped like infants, and owning one determines whether or not you're a good person. But at least that would have been more honest than pulling a bait-and-switch on an eager audience of canine lovers. A better title might have been Must Tolerate Pushy In-Laws, as Diane Lane's sweet but hopeless divorcée is smothered by a half-dozen brothers and sisters, her father, her father's three girlfriends, her gay best friend, and his boyfriend. Adding to this swarm are two suitors (played by Dermot Mulroney and John Cusack), not to mention their friends, in some cases their children, and a handful of bad blind dates, who are introduced via two separate instances of the ever-popular "disastrous date montage." Must Love Dogs wants to be the first night's homework in Romantic Comedy 101 -- director Gary David Goldberg includes documentary-style interviews with his fictitious couples, a la When Harry Met Sally, and in another common device, Cusack's character obsesses over a classic movie (Dr. Zhivago), thereby proving he's a person of substance. (Must Love Dogs also aspires to full-on chick flick royalty, as Lane and two sisters talk about watching Beaches). But in the case of When Harry Met Sally specifically, less was a whole lot more. That film never felt under-populated, even with both leads limited to essentially one buddy/sounding board apiece. Must Love Dogs, on the other hand, feels consistently over-stuffed -- with everything but dogs, that is. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Stockard Channing - Dolly; Julie Gonzalo - June; Ali Hillis - Christine; Brad Hall - Stanley; Tony Bill - Walter; Michael Spound - Marc; Will McCormack - Jason; Kirk Trutner - Deli Guy; Suzy Nakamura - Mai; Marylouise Burke - Aunt Eileen; Ben Shenkman - Charlie; Bess Wohl - Rebecca; Laura Kightlinger - Marcia; Steven R. Schirripa - Vinnie; Patrick Fabian - Donald; Will Rothhaar - Jeremy; Victor Webster - Eric; Josh Stamberg - Lennie; Jordana Spiro - Sherry; Krikor Satamian - Mr. Parseghian; Shana Hiatt - Hostess; Patrick St. Esprit - Marshall; Colin Egglesfield - David; Brad William Henke - Leo; Bobby Coleman - Austin; Jon Lindstrom - Peter; Glenn Howerton - Michael; Ted Griffin - Bill Jr.; Emma Prescott - Molly; Jaden Sorensen - Justin; Anoush Nevart - Mrs. Parseghian; Rubria Martins-Negrao - Sonia; Jamie Denbo - Bertha; Miles Hull - Timmy; Amy Kidd - Jennifer; Ted Detwiler - Boat Guy; Kate McClafferty - Coxswain
Credit
Kevin Kavanaugh - Art Director, Julie Ragland - Associate Producer, Linda Murphy - Boom Operator, Joanna Colbert - Casting, Bonnie Finnegan - Casting, Marguerite Derricks - Choreography, Dr. Philip Belove - Consultant/advisor, Susan Page - Consultant/advisor, Cindy Wasson - Consultant/advisor, Sam Weisman - Consultant/advisor, Florence-Isabelle Megginson - Costume Designer, Gamila Smith - Costume Designer, Lola B. Chambers - Costume Designer, Linda Huse - Costume Designer, Tess Inman - Costume Designer, Paul A. St. John - Costume Designer, K.C. Colwell - First Assistant Director, Gary David Goldberg - Director, Eric Sears - Editor, Roger Bondelli - Editor, Brad Hall - Executive Producer, Ronald G. Smith - Executive Producer, Grant Rosenberg - Executive Producer, Laurel Van Dyke - Hair Styles, Candy L. Walken - Hair Styles, Patrick Mignano - Location Manager, Craig Armstrong - Composer (Music Score), Kazimir Boyle - Musical Arrangement, Jonathan Hafter - Musical Direction/Supervision, Patty York - Makeup, Denise Wynbrandt - Makeup, Leah Vautrot - Makeup, Andy Shuttlesworth - Camera Operator, Matthew Moriarty - Camera Operator, Naomi Shohan - Production Designer, John Bailey - Cinematographer, Ronald G. Smith - Production Manager, Gary David Goldberg - Producer, Suzanne Todd - Producer, Jennifer Todd - Producer, Sally Thornton - Set Designer, Gina B. Cranham - Set Designer, Jim Slater - Set Designer, Albert Marangoni - Special Effects, Shaun Glendenning - Special Effects, Sandra M. Stewart - Special Effects, David Kelson - Sound Mixer, David Kelson - Sound/Sound Designer, Russell Solberg - Stunts, Michele Sebek - Stunts, Sonny Tipton - Stunts, Darlene Ava Williams - Stunts, Patrick Kelly - Stunts, Debbi Mazor - Stunts, Jack Gill - Stunts Coordinator, Gary David Goldberg - Screenwriter, Jon Title - Sound Effects Editor, Tom Ozanich - Sound Effects Editor, Kerry Ann Carmean-Williams - Sound Effects Editor, Boone's Animals For Hollywood - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, Mark Harden - Animal Trainer/Wrangler, David Linck - Unit Publicist, Clyde E. Bryan - First Assistant Camera, Suzanne M. Trucks - First Assistant Camera, Randy Tambling - Key Grip, Richard Ford - Music Editor, Ilyse A. Reutlinger - Post Production Supervisor, Jennifer Corey - Production Coordinator, Hope M. Parrish - Properties Master, Gregg Rudloff - Re-Recording Mixer, John Reitz - Re-Recording Mixer, Dave Campbell - Re-Recording Mixer, Rebecca Robertson-Szwaja - Script Supervisor, Paula Harris - Second Assistant Director, Phil Notaro - Special Effects Coordinator, Andy Shuttlesworth - Steadicam Operator, Claudette Barius - Still Photographer, Michael Wilhoit - Supervising Sound Editor, Debbie Travis - Costume/Wardrobe, Eric Gotthelf - ADR Mixer, Troy Porter - ADR Mixer, Stan Gonsales - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Jonathan P. O'Neil - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Guy Morrison - Assistant Location Manager, Matt Chamberlin - Assistant Location Manager, Kyle Oliver - Assistant Location Manager, Steven Eddy - Assistant Production Coordinator, Michelle Souza - Assistant Properties, Paul Rylander - Assistant Properties, Katrina Gagnon - Assistant Sound Editor, Kent Baker - Best Boy Grip, Brad Boyer - Best Boy Grip, Tulio Duenas - Camera Loader, Richard Mento - Casting Associate, Mike G. Moyer - Chief Lighting Technician, Joe Ondrejko - Construction Coordinator, Andrea Weaver - Costumes Supervisor, Stephanie Flack - Dialogue Editor, Sean Devine - Dolly Grip, Eric Osmond - First Assistant Editor, Michael A. Webber - First Assistant Editor, John Roesch - Foley Artist, Alyson Dee Moore - Foley Artist, Bob Beher - Foley Editor, Sanford Slepak - Key Costumer, Rose Librizzi - Key Make-up, Chris A. Miller - Leadman, Joanna August - Personal Assistant, Nancy Culp - Personal Assistant, Aurelie Levy - Personal Assistant, Joanna Ray - Personal Assistant, Jennifer Bell - Second Assistant Camera, Craig Comstock - Second Second Assistant Director, Josh Sheppard - Storyboard Artist, Digital Dream - Visual Effects, Kathryn Peters-Cardinale - Set Decorator, Claire Cook - Book Author, Bud Raymond - Cable Person, Lee Wimer - Color Timing, Jay Sircy - Construction Foreman, Rob Garlow - Construction Foreman, Tom Hrupcho - Construction Foreman, Gilbert Kevin Maruyama - Construction Foreman, Mary Jo Lang - Foley Mixer, Mo Henry - Negative Cutter, Clint Schultz - Graphic Design, Kathleen Walker - Art Department Coordinator, Bryan Lamoureux - Assistant Editor, Oliver Hug - Assistant Music Editor, Gail Ryan - Department Head Hair, Jane Galli - Department Head Hair, David Stanke - First Assistant Sound Editor
