Darling Companion (2012)

The story of a woman who loves her dog more than her husband. And then her husband loses the dog.

Director:

Lawrence Kasdan

Writers:

Meg Kasdan, Lawrence Kasdan

Stars:

Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Dianne Wiest

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Diane Keaton	...	Beth
Kevin Kline	...	Joseph
Dianne Wiest	...	Penny
Richard Jenkins	...	Russell
Elisabeth Moss	...	Grace
Mark Duplass	...	Bryan
Ayelet Zurer	...	Carmen
Sam Shepard	...	Sheriff Morris
Lindsay Sloane	...	Ellie
Jay Ali	...	Sam
Robert Bear	...	Possum
Casey	...	Freeway
Paul Kiernan	...	Patient
Jericho Watson	...	Ethan
Yolanda Wood	...	Cop

Storyline

Mother and daughter, Beth and Grace, find a bedraggled dog on the side of the freeway. Taking it home and rescuing it, the dog helps Grace meet a man. But Beth's husband, Joseph, hates the dog and just might cause even more friction in their marriage. While at their remote cabin for a weekend wedding with family, Joseph loses the dog and Beth isn't going home until they find it. With help from their nephew, Joseph's sister, her new boyfriend, and their psychic gypsy maid, the family search high and low for the missing dog and in the process find that they also need to mend their own relationships.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | search | wedding | woods | marriage | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content including references, and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 May 2012 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Darling Companion - Ein Hund fürs Leben

Filming Locations:

Telluride, Colorado, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$39,962 (USA) (20 April 2012)

Gross:

$793,352 (USA) (17 August 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Werc Werk Works, Kasdan Pictures, Likely Story

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The eleventh theatrical feature film directed by Lawrence Kasdan.

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Goofs

Towards the end of the film they take off in one type of aircraft but land in another totally different type after forcing the aircraft to return having spotted Freeway from it.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Patient: This is the best my back has felt in three years. Joseph, you're a genius.
Joseph: That's my job. I'm a surgeon. But I'm no genius.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.130 (2012)

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Soundtracks

Bacon Soup
Written by Mark Robinette
Performed by Mark Robinette, Ryan Shupe and Craig Miner

User Reviews

Not perfect but still worthwhile, especially for fans of the cast

Beth (Diane Keaton) has always played second fiddle to her doctor-husband Joseph's (Kevin Kline) job as an orthopedic surgeon. As someone who was busy raising three daughters, this didn't matter so much. But, now the gals are grown and the tension between Beth and Joe is pretty palpable. As they reside in Denver, one snowy winter day, Beth spies a dog on the side of the road, a major highway. She insists that her daughter pull over so they can rescue him. After a trip to the vet, where Beth's daughter makes eyes with the veterinarian, Beth takes "Freeway" the canine home. To be sure, Joseph doesn't really want to keep the mutt but, for once, Beth insists. Over the next few months, Beth and Freeway form a strong attachment while Joe softens his stance a bit. Romance is in the air! Yes, soon the vet and the dog rescuer's girl are walking down the aisle, in a remote area of the state. After the ceremony, Beth, Joe and assorted relatives and friends stay on for a few days at the mountain resort. Alas, Joe takes a call on his cellphone as he is walking the dog and Freeway breaks free and gets lost. As a result, long standing grievances come out between Beth and Joseph, as Beth blames Joe for Freeway's missing status. So, will the lovable canine be found and will it be at the cost of the marriage? This worthwhile film is not without flaws but it is not a disaster by any means. For certain, the cast adds greatly to its entertainment value, as Keaton, Kline, Diane Wiest, Richard Jenkins, and the rest get as much out of their roles as possible. Kline, especially, has a truly unlikeable part, redeemed somewhat at the end, which takes courage to play. Then, too, the scenery is quite wonderful while the photography is equally fine. As for the script, it is definitely uneven and rather haphazardly put together, which makes director Kasdan work harder to polish up the results. Then, too, while the dog in the movie is darling, this is really not an animal flick but rather one about human relationships and their perils. Therefore, if you are attracted to the cast, director, or setting, take a chance on the flick and bring it home.