Based on the book by Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a story about friendship, coping with loss, and hardships. It’s all very human experiences…only, seen from the perspective of—and narrated by—a golden retriever named Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner, Dances with Wolves). His master, Denny (Milo Ventimiglia, This is Us), is an aspiring Formula One race car driver. However, his world is suddenly turned upside down when he meets Eve (Amanda Seyfried, Les Miserables, Mean Girls). Before Enzo knows it, Denny’s married…but the canine is still a part of their lives. And they have a daughter named Zoe.
Then one day, when Denny’s gone, the dog picks up the scent of “rotting wood” coming from Eve’s head. Yes, this is the sort of film that requires a box of tissues. To its credit, it’s very effective at conveying how people not only cope with loss and endure hardship, but love each other. Despite the animal narration, it nevertheless connects with the audience well.
This connection is largely due to the wonderful performances of Ventimiglia, Seyfried, and the others in the cast. They make Rain not only a powerful viewing experience, but an entertaining one as well, because there is plenty of humor here as well to balance out the drama. Anyone who loves dogs or has ever owned one will also—naturally—greatly appreciate the canine perspective through which we view the film.
Thanks to great direction by Simon Curtis, and a screenplay from Mark Bomback and Stein himself, this film ultimately works on almost every level. Audiences who have lost loved ones may find it both a difficult experience as well as an inspiring one. Some elements of the canine narration (such as a preoccupation with reincarnation, for instance) might seem a bit silly. Even so, it’s still very much worth racing to see.
★★★ out of four
Rated PG; 123 minutes.
THE REEL REVIEWER WITH JOSHUA KROEGER 