Review of Wiener-Dog (2016) by Kjetil J — 06 Sep 2018

Yes, the wonderful world of portmanteau movies! From "The Yellow Rolls-Royce" to "Au hasard Balthazar" objects and animals pass through different hands and give us insight into the human condition.

And then there is "Wiener-Dog". Director Todd Solondz is also a teacher of film, at University level, and this movie surely was made so he and his snivelling students have something to snigger about. He is even too lazy to establish whether the (impeccable groomed) dachshund is the same in every episode or not. The first segment is the best - a family with a son recuperating from cancer where the parents behave like this was only their ordeal. You are never sure about mother Julie Delpy - does she talk with her son because she cares or to make him stop his constant questioning. With a tracking shot straight from the bowels of hell this should be used as a stand-alone government short: "Why you should not give your dog chocolate".

Enter Wiener-Dog in person, this time portrayed by Greta Gerwig. Solondz does not do Feisty Indie Saviour Girl, but this is as close as you get. A woman (Zosia Mamet) we meet later aspires to be one - a path that certainly will lead to misery. As every other path in this movie. Even the bright colors seem to mock all this human navel-gazing. The world is rather beautiful, but no-one notice.

What else? Danny DeVito pops up as the film teacher who put the burn in burn-out. And at no point does the dog become a cop or puts on basketball shoes. "Wiener-Dog" was Solondz seventh feature. Long may the sniggering continue.