My Dog Skip (2000)

Director:

Jay Russell

Writers (WGA):

Willie Morris (book)
Gail Gilchriest (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Every family needs an optimist.

Plot:

A shy boy grows up in 1940s Mississippi with the help of his beloved dog, Skip.

Plot Keywords:

Mississippi | Dog | Puppy | 1940s | Auto Repair

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Frankie Muniz	...	Willie Morris
Diane Lane	...	Ellen Morris
Luke Wilson	...	Dink Jenkins
Kevin Bacon	...	Jack Morris
Bradley Coryell	...	Big Boy Wilkinson
Daylan Honeycutt	...	Henjie Henick
Cody Linley	...	Spit McGee
Caitlin Wachs	...	Rivers Applewhite
Peter Crombie	...	Junior Smalls
Clint Howard	...	Millard
Mark Beech	...	Army Buddy
Susan Carol Davis	...	Mrs. Jenkins
David Pickens	...	Mr. Jenkins
Lucile Doan Ewing	...	Aunt Maggie
Nathaniel Lee Jr.	...	Sammy (as Nathaniel Lee)

MPAA:

Rated PG for some violent content and mild language.

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS | Dolby SR

Certification:

Ireland:PG | South Korea:All | Sweden:Btl (TV rating) | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | UK:U | USA:PG | Philippines:G | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Canton, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Alcon Entertainment

Trivia:

Moose, the dog who plays Skip, is best known for playing Eddie in the sitcom "Frasier" (1993). He died of natural causes in June 2006.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The black sports star is shown shooting a basketball jump shot, which had not been invented in 1942.

Quotes:

Dink: You bawling like a big baby 'cause you lost that ball game?
Willie Morris: What do you know about it? You didn't come you big liar. Leave me alone.
Dink: That's how it is, isn't it? You're a hero today, and then you're a goat tomorrow. Now I didn't come because games don't mean nothing to me anymore.
Willie Morris: It's not the game. It's Skip. He's gone for good.
Dink: For good? Now how do you know that? You some kind of fortune teller?
Willie Morris: I got mad at him and I hit him. And he ran away. Just like you ran away. Skip was never afraid of nothing.
Dink: You think I don't know what folks are saying? That old Dink's a coward? Huh? Well I know. And you know what? They're right. I got scared. And I ran. You think it was 'cause I was afraid of dying? Because I wished I was dead plenty of times.
Willie Morris: Then what was it?
Dink: It ain't the dying that scary, boy. It's the killing. Now look, that dog ain't lost. You just need to know where to find him. There's gotta be at least one place around here that you hadn't thought of to look at, right?
[Willy runs off to find Skip]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#25.7)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

There'll Be a Hot Time in the Town of Berlin

the power of friendship

There have been many movies about a person's relationship with an animal, but "My Dog Skip" is one of the best that I have ever seen. I discovered this movie on video and it will definitely become a part of my collection.

In the 1940's, during World War II, things are rough in the USA. Willie Morris is not your average boy. He would rather read than play football with the other guys. When Willie's parents let him have a dog, it changes his whole outlook on life. He and his dog Skip have a unique friendship that becomes unmatched by anything else.

While this movie's target audience are kids half my age, it is perfect for everyone. Its story is very true to life, probably because it's based on Willie Morris' own childhood and his memoir of the same name. I had a dog that was just like Skip -- a true friend. There's nothing like a constant companion that will stick by you even when it seems that the world is against you. Even if you're not a dog fan, you shouldn't look past this movie.

The cast is excellent, especially Frankie Muniz, who's now known as Malcolm from Fox's "Malcolm in the Middle." He exudes boyhood innocence and bonds with his pet better than he does with humans. His parents, Diane Lane and Kevin Bacon, do a fine job as well. Rounding out the major cast is Luke Wilson, as Willie's changed-by-war neighbor Dink.

"My Dog Skip" is funny and heartwarming. You'll laugh and chances are you could shed some tears as well, but it's all worth it in the long run. This a movie that should not be missed by anyone, especially if you have had a special animal friend in your life.