Review of Baxter (1989) by Brian S — 07 Jan 2011
An odd film that takes the viewer inside them mind of a dog to get a look at human nature through the eyes of an outsider. Baxter is bounced from home to home, beginning with an old woman, then to the home of a young couple who has a baby, and finally into the hands of a young buy with an obsession with Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun. It's a bit like Baxter is traveling backwards through a human lifespan and finding a kind of violent selfishness at its core.
Generally, the acting throughout is quite good and the story will keep the viewer involved. Baxter packs a good combination of tension and black humor when it's working. It doesn't always work, though. Some of the dialogue written for the dog seems too fragmented and self-contradictory, and much of it is ponderous philosophizing that carries a little too much pretentiousness. Baxter's intellectual abilities, not to mention his "inner" voice, are jarring much of the time. Despite this flaw, "Baxter" has enough good moments to make it a worthwhile watch.
It's Lassie meets Albert Camus. Add a star if you're a fan of French cinema and dog flicks.
This review of Baxter (1989) was written by Brian S on 07 Jan 2011.
Baxter has generally received positive reviews.
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