The Dog Stars deserved better than to be an August release
I was really torn on what to go see this week. The second choice was Coyote vs Acme, which is a movie I have hopes for. It’s a premise with promise. Though I’m not watching any reviews on it, my daughter took the littles to see CvA and she didn’t hate it. Now, she ALSO didn’t say ‘you have to go see it!’ So…streaming it shall be. It appears that your humble Average Dude made the right call in choosing The Dog Stars.
Like Superhero movies?
The Dog Stars is yet another post-apocalyptic thriller and Hollywood seems to have no end of such shows to offer us. Clearly, our fascination with the days AFTER the end of days is inexhaustible. We eat it up and always come back for more. Sure, some are better than others and Riddley Scott is no stranger to dropping a clunker (looking at you, Gladiator II. Or Napoleon). Having said that, he’s also responsible for The Martian, which is a multiple times annual watch. So his name underneath DIRECTOR will always catch my eye.
Why So Sirius?
The Dog Stars centers on Hig (Jacob Elordi) and Bangley (Josh Brolin) – who have survived the pandemic that wiped out most of the world. They have a kind of love-hate but trusting relationship built on the shared need to keep breathing. Hig and Bangley live on a tiny, remote airfield somewhere within one-prop flying distance of Denver and enjoy a relatively affluent life compared to the rest of society. They have weapons (because of course they do). They have power for the fridge. They have food and medical supplies. Most of all, they have relative safety. The latter is mostly due to the ultra-seclusionist and militant philosophy of Bangley…kill first so you don’t have to ask questions later.
We all hope we would, anyway
In contrast to Bangley, Hig has a heart of compassion and periodically flies his Cessna (he’s a plane mechanic) to bring supplies and technical aide to a group of surviving Mennonites. It seems a little pie-eyed to think that this would happen in a world that has returned to savagery but hope is a powerful thing. I like to think that there might still be good hearts when society collapses.
As part of their security measures Hig daily takes to the less-than-friendly skies. Accompanied by his well-trained dog Jasper, he scans for anything that they might need to deal with later. During those flights, Hig will occasionally hear voices on his radio from Grand Junction, a semi-close neighboring town. He plans to fly to Grand Junction in an attempt to build a better life. This is a idea that Bangley is 100% against, preferring to live in relative safety and seclusion. Grizzled veteran philosophy versus youthful altruism.
Will They or Won’t They?
Hig does eventually attempt the journey but develops engine trouble (because of course he does) and is forced to land in a mountainous meadow. While working to repair his plane he is reluctantly befriended by Cima (Margaret Qualley) and her father ‘Pops’ (Guy Pearce). From there, the ‘will-they/won’t they’ plot thread begins.
That’s the basic setup for The Dog Stars and all the setup you’re going to get from me. The rest is for you to discover on your own. Suffice to say, there is some very Riddley-esque explosions and gunfire in The Dog Stars, but not enough that I would call it an action movie. It’s a drama. Sometimes a thriller. Slow in most places broken up by periods of noisy, post-apocalyptic fun.
Why such a low score from Rotten Tomatoes?
The fire-from-the-hip score walking out of the theater I’m giving The Dog Stars just under a 4, and there are certainly fair reasons for that score. Mrs Average Dude rightly pointed out that it kind of dragged in the beginning. It did take its time setting up the characters and situations and seemed to vacillate between dark drama and action film. In some places, it is more like Buckaroo Banzai than The Postman (I love that movie. Fight me). But for all that, I was invested in all the right people and that is what makes for a good movie.
So, I’m giving The Dog Stars a very watchable 3.9/5. It could have been a solid 4, but for personal reasons, got bumped down a notch (ask me why in the comments). I was not a bit sorry to pay theater price and corn to see The Dog Stars. I did have to Google the name and felt a bit sheepish for not having figured it out without assistance. Hey, its Fantasy Football drafting season and I’ve got a lot on my mind!
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