Dog

Channing Tatum and his regular producing partner Reid Carolin have their feature directorial debut with Dog. In this, Tatum stars as Jackson Briggs, a U.S. Army Ranger suffering PTSD and whose injuries have kept him out of the battlefield. To prove himself and being accepted by his superiors, Briggs has to take Lulu, a military dog his unit worked with, to the funeral of her handler and one of his unit members. It's no easy task as Lulu also suffers from PTSD and her violent tendencies have led to the decision of euthanizing her after the funeral. Throughout the long road trip, Briggs is initially annoyed by Lulu's antics, the two get in some predicaments, start to bond from their similar issues, and as she learns to trust him Briggs sees that there's more to life than fighting in the battlefield. For first time directors, Tatum and Carolin prove that they're more than capable of giving a very moving and emotional story. Carolin's script is well thought out in giving us well written characters with a good blend of drama and comedy that doesn't feel forced when either is in play. All the while Tatum gives one of his strongest performances by giving us a man who wants to fight but isn't afraid to be vulnerable and isn't portrayed as a grunting muscle man. Briggs doesn't have to be a gun totting Rambo to be considered memorable, he just needs to show that those with PTSD are just as human as any other person. Editor Leslie Jones should be given credit for such a lush and quick process that helps keep the movie from feeling too slow or too fast. While the cinematography from Newton Thomas Sigel isn't extraordinary but how he captures the majestic landscapes and backgrounds throughout the trip is such a wonderful thing. If Tatum and Carolin made something as incredible as Dog, I for one am exited for whatever comes next from them. Over all: 100%

2022 top list so far:

1. Dog

2. Scream 2022