The quintessential feelgood Aussie movie? Or just rubbish?
Red Dog, the story of the famous Kelpie of the Pilbara, who both adopted and was adopted by the mining community at Dampier, would seem the perfect choice for a true blue Aussie movie.
Who could resist a story of two drifters finding each other – a hitchhiking dog and a directionless man? Who could fail to be touched by Red Dog’s ingenuity, persistence and loyalty…by his ability to bring out the best in the miners …and how he brought a new dimension to life in this remote outpost? Surely every dog lover was touched and don’t forget the nod to cat lovers with a dervish-like cat and dog fight.
Well, dear readers I have news for you. Much as most people loved it, there were some who hated it with a passion. Counteracting the ecstatic comments like “Awesome”, “Amazing”, “Proud, funny, moving”, were those who warned; “Avoid it like the plague”, “Possibly the worst movie I had to sit through”, “Looks like rubbish”, and “Student production”.
What makes people respond so differently?
Those who loved it seemed to identify instinctively with the bond between humans and their dogs, with particular focus on the unconditional love they give us, so different from what humans call love, which is far too often a wish to possess and control.
Those who loathed it found it clichéd and corny. They were critical of the acting and questioned the credibility of the characters and events depicted.
To maintain an open and balanced view, we might say both are right. It simply depends on the criteria on which you base your opinion. If the purpose of the film was to make a 100% factual record of the story of Red Dog, with no poetic license, then perhaps the critics have a point.
If however, the aim was to offer a loose account of a classic, (allowing for a touch of embroidery along the way) that reaches into the emotional side of our nature and achieves a balance between comedy and pathos, then maybe the cynics are missing out.
The score of 29 – 3 above is not the result of long and detailed research, but rather an indication drawn from one source, that shows what you can expect if you were to run an opinion poll.
My money’s on the table that Red Dog wins hands down.
Author: Marcelle Grolman
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