# A Dog's Purpose... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 25, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891 "2016-09-25T22:19:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/21 "2017-01-24T17:31:53Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > I thought they had canceled the release of this movie? I saw ads for it last night. They canceled the Hollywood premiere. They didn’t cancel the general release. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/22 "2017-01-24T17:45:18Z")
Producer Galvin Polone talks about the controversy here: > **[Gavin Polone on ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ Outcry, What Really Happened and Who’s to...](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/gavin-polone-a-dogs-purpose-outcry-what-happened-whos-blame-967160/)** > > The film’s producer (and a THR columnist) explains the controversial video showing alleged on-set abuse, the precautions that were taken, the failure of a watchdog group and PETA’s role… I feel a little better after reading this – mistakes were made but the dog is OK. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/23 "2017-01-24T18:04:59Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Producer Galvin Polone talks about the controversy here: > > [Gavin Polone on ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ Outcry, What Really Happened and Who’s to Blame](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gavin-polone-a-dogs-purpose-outcry-what-happened-whos-blame-967160) > > I feel a little better after reading this – mistakes were made but the dog is OK. It also shows, once again, that PETA is a bunch of fucking loons. I wish people would stop treating them as if they were a legitimate voice for animal rights. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/24 "2017-01-24T18:05:29Z")
I think a lot of people will see it as; ‘Mistakes were made’, is not _quite_ taking ownership. And ‘The dogs fine!’, sounds a lot like code for, ‘has no visible injuries’. I’m going to guess the damage is done, and this film will now always be tainted, to a LOT of people. On the upside, I’m also going to guess directors, studios, etc, will be a LOT more strident, in future, about overseeing how animals are treated. And that’s probably a good thing! ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/25 "2017-01-24T18:15:32Z")
Youtube, stop forcing me to watch a 30-second, unskippable trailer for this movie after every silly 2-minute video I watch. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2017, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/26 "2017-01-24T19:20:06Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > They canceled the Hollywood premiere. They didn’t cancel the general release. Oh, I see. Thank you for the answer. I’m still not sure if I want to support the movie by seeing it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/27 "2017-01-27T17:40:21Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Producer Galvin Polone talks about the controversy here: > > [Gavin Polone on ‘A Dog’s Purpose’ Outcry, What Really Happened and Who’s to Blame](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gavin-polone-a-dogs-purpose-outcry-what-happened-whos-blame-967160) > > I feel a little better after reading this – mistakes were made but the dog is OK. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > It also shows, once again, that PETA is a bunch of fucking loons. I wish people would stop treating them as if they were a legitimate voice for animal rights. Not going to support PETA, but it’s funny that you take the word of a _producer_ (i.e., someone with a direct financial interest in the movie’s success) automatically and discount other claims because they involve an emotional stake in the issue. Do you believe greed will not distort someone’s perspective like other emotions? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/28 "2017-01-27T18:15:13Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Oh, I see. Thank you for the answer. > > I’m still not sure if I want to support the movie by seeing it, though. I will. PETA is a bunch of extremists and do not represent the interests of the vast majority of people who love animals. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/29 "2017-01-27T19:50:27Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Not going to support PETA, but it’s funny that you take the word of a _producer_ (i.e., someone with a direct financial interest in the movie’s success) automatically and discount other claims because they involve an emotional stake in the issue. > > Do you believe greed will not distort someone’s perspective like other emotions? Did you read the article? ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/30 "2017-01-27T20:48:09Z")
> [@simster](#): > > Did you read the article? I did, and I find him credible. The man made a film about the positive impact of aa dog on a person’s life. And PETA, along with the sleezy TMZ, cuts together a bunch of clips including one not from his film, and delays it a year and a half to try to torpedo his film. The success of his film is dependent on attracting dog lovers to the theater - only a complete idiot would do anything to piss dog lovers off. PETA, as others have pointed out, may well be the biggest killer of dogs in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/31 "2017-01-28T04:58:23Z")
The only part of _John Wick_ that bothered me was when the dog got whacked. Well, and when those awesome cars were abused. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/32 "2017-01-28T16:54:14Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I will. PETA is a bunch of extremists and do not represent the interests of the vast majority of people who love animals. If you love animals, I’m not sure how much you’ll enjoy seeing A Dog’s Purpose, [since from one review I read](http://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/a-dogs-purpose-review-fck-this-movie-so-hard.php), it just sounds like emotional manipulation by showing various dogs being mistreated and dying without much story to link things up. From the review, here’s some things that happen in the movie: \*In the first three minutes, puppy!Bailey is taken away to be euthanized. That’s how the reincarnation is established. \*Within three minutes of that, Bailey’s second incarnation is locked in a hot car and almost dies. \*Times Bailey dies of old age: Two \*Times Bailey falls in love with another dog, who is subsequently taken away to the vet and never returns, much to Bailey’s confusion: One \*It’s worth mentioning again: Dog is shot and killed. \*Dog is adopted by a white trash couple who chain it to a tree in their front yard. The world’s saddest montage shows the dog being left there for years, in all sorts of weather, never allowed off the chain to play or given much by way of human contact. Eventually, the dog is abandoned on the side of the road. In regards to the video, I’m not exactly sure what to believe, but it also sounds like this isn’t the only movie that has issues with animals, it’s just one of the few with video proof. [I recently read this article](http://www.cracked.com/blog/a-dogs-purpose-just-revealing-old-hollywood-problem/) that discusses issues on The Hobbit, Luck, and Life of Pi. I’m guessing if there were people secretly taping on other movie sets that there would be other outrages. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/33 "2017-01-28T17:04:08Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I will. PETA is a bunch of extremists and do not represent the interests of the vast majority of people who love animals. I’d love to get a t-shirt I saw that says **P** eople **E** ating **T** asty\*\* A\*\*nimals ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/34 "2017-01-30T18:37:32Z")
From the description, this movie sounds like a dog version of “Garfield’s Nine Lives.” ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/35 "2017-07-05T01:30:31Z")
Was there a thread for folks who saw this film? I finally watched it today. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/36 "2017-07-05T19:13:48Z")
Rather than start a new thread, I will confirm here that it was not good. It felt manipulative. The dog’s lives were unconnected, for the most part. A few seemed to have no purpose, or at least none related to the film. The story was clunky at best. It was frustrating because you could imagine a movie where the lives are all relevant, even connected. My son loved it. My husband and I are glad we didn’t see it at the theater. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/37 "2019-07-05T03:43:26Z")
Well, I finally got up the courage to watch this tonight. Needless to say I’ve been crying for the past 2 hours am and also a little drunk. I can’t even breath out of my nose right now. At the end of the month it’ll be 1 year since I had to take Max to the vet for the last time. I can’t stop crying. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/38 "2019-07-05T04:13:31Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Well, I finally got up the courage to watch this tonight. Needless to say I’ve been crying for the past 2 hours am and also a little drunk. I can’t even breath out of my nose right now. At the end of the month it’ll be 1 year since I had to take Max to the vet for the last time. I can’t stop crying. Have you considered a new puppy? You can’t replace Max, of course. In fact I found out the hard way the same breed may not be a good idea. I’m sorry you’re having a hard time. I wish you peace. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/39 "2019-07-05T12:06:12Z")
[Oh, crap in a hat; it says, “…_Purpose_.”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=279GXsqPE5g) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891/40 "2019-07-05T12:23:52Z")
Sometimes I’m tempted to go to a showing of one of these tear-jerkers and [cackle insanely](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/33/fe/0f/33fe0fd2a208ad1e4eb938452e6e4c77.jpg) when something bad happens to the dog. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-dogs-purpose/766891.md?page=3)