Black Dog Review
by Joy Wyse (jwyse AT onlineworks DOT com)May 7th, 1998
Review: BLACK DOG [1998]
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Randy Travis, Meatloaf, Gabriel Casseus, Brian Vincent, Stephen Tobolowski, Brenda Strong.
Directed by: Kevin Hooks
Review by: Joy Wyse
Reflecting on the movie BLACK DOG I see holes that you could drive a truck through, but that's exactly what they did. They drove that truck anywhere they could. The more explosions and wrecks that there are, the better.
Swayze portrays a husband/father who has recently been paroled from prison where he was serving a sentence for vehicular manslaughter. His deadly accident had occurred when he fell asleep at the wheel [and saw the black dog!] and had killed a couple of people.
Now, he no longer has a license to drive but he works for a trucking company. Of course, the owner offers him $10,000 to drive a "special" load from Georgia to New Jersey. Being the good parolee that he is, he refuses, until he learns that his wife had been unable to keep up with the bills and their home is being foreclosed unless they come up with $9,000 immediately.
>From there the plot gets very involved with hijackers, FBI, ATF, and who knows who else trying to intercept the load. Swayze has been established in the film as a skilled truck driver, so he pulls off some very fancy driving.
In the back of the rig there is a vicious black dog who is there to protect the load. It seems that the only reason that dog is really there is to add to the title. There is no explanation for the dog's actions. Although the dog is portrayed as being anxious to pounce whenever the rear door is opened, he is mysteriously hesitant when the officer at the weigh station inspects the truck. Everyone in the audience was wondering if the truckers had gone off and left the dog behind somewhere. When he finally snarls, it seems almost comical. It would have been far better if the dog had lurked in the background whenever the truck was entered. We could have been surprised when Patrick first encounters him, and then we would have been anticipating the dog's appearance when the guard inspects the load. Also, later in the film, when a dead body is placed in the rear with the load, what does that dog do?
As I mentioned, there are plenty of good stunts and crashes and explosions. How do you wreck a lot of cars at once? Just crash a truck that is carrying a load of cars.
Swayze is OK in the roll, not good, not bad. Kevin Sorbo was originally intended as the star but his shoulder problem prevented it. I wonder if it would have been different with him. As for the two singers, Randy Travis and Meatloaf, they both turn in creditable portrayals, although it is funny listening to Travis trying to sing poorly. Make sure that you listen to the lyrics of his creations. They're very funny. I especially like "He drew first, but I shot faster."
I won't mind watching it again on late night TV when there's nothing better on, but I'm not going to pay to see it again.
It gets a C.
SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES!
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