My Dog Skip Review
by Jon Popick (jpopick AT sick-boy DOT com)February 29th, 2000
PLANET SICK-BOY: http://www.sick-boy.com
"We Put the SIN in Cinema"
Before he succumbed to a heart attack last fall, author Willie Morris was renowned for his portrayal of growing up in the South during the 1940s, before becoming the youngest editor-in-chief of Harper’s magazine. His best-known and most personal book was an autobiographical tale about his pre-pubescent years in Yazoo, Mississippi, when Morris’ life was forever changed by a dog he received for his ninth birthday. The story, which begat this film, was called “My Dog Skip,” after the terrier Morris dubbed Skipper.
Frankie Muniz (Malcolm in the Middle) portrays the young Morris in the film, which was shot on location in Mississippi. The first several minutes of the film do a great job of setting up the story: Morris is scrawny and shy, an only child in a community where most families had four or five kids. His dad (Kevin Bacon, Stir of Echoes) lost a leg in the Spanish Civil War, which resulted in a before-its-time gender reversal between his gimpy, apron-wearing father and able-bodied mother (Diane Lane, A Walk on the Moon). Mercilessly bullied by three of his schoolmates, Morris’ one bright spot is that he lives next-door to Yazoo’s greatest athlete and favorite son, Dink Jenkins (Luke Wilson, Blue Streak).
When Dink is shipped off to fight in World War II, Morris’ self-esteem hits an all-time low. But then he gets the slobbery Skip for his birthday, and the dog helps him make peace with the school bullies and gives him the courage to participate in sporting events, not to mention helping him land the school’s number one skirt, Rivers Applewhite (Caitlin Wachs, Profiler). Of course, like any decent film about kids and animals, there is tragedy at the end, and Skip doesn’t pull any punches. It’s a full, four-hankie final reel rendered even more frightening by the film’s protagonists: Peter Crombie (Crazy Joe Davola from Seinfeld) and Clint Howard (EdTV). They’re creepy - even for adults.
There are a few moments where Skip gets a little heavy-handed trying to drive home the message of the period’s racial inequality (the dog was “colorblind,” so he was just as happy to hang out on the wrong side of the tracks as he was the right…sheesh). But that’s a pretty minor complaint for a film this endearing. Muniz is great, displaying more talent here than you’re used to seeing in Malcolm. The film covers several years, and Muniz does a fantastic job of portraying Morris’ different ages. Even though it’s been several days since I’ve seen the film, I still get choked up thinking about the ending. Sure, it’s a calculating, button-pusher, but anyone that’s ever owned a dog should really enjoy this film.
Skip was directed by Jay Russell (End of the Line) and was adapted from Morris’ book by first-time screenwriter Gail Gilchriest. The film was narrated by Harry Connick, Jr. (Hope Floats) and may be too intense for smaller children.
1:35 - PG for some violent content and mild adult language
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
