My Boyfriends' Dogs (2014 TV Movie) User Reviews

A different kind of romance story

[Jackbv123 · 5/10 · 15 August 2017]

I would almost call this an anti-romance story. It is more about bad boyfriends and breaking up than about falling in love. It certainly isn't the typical formula for Hallmark.

Bailey is a very likable girl. How can you not like her. She becomes whatever you want her to be. And she has a nice personality and is very giving. Don't forget she loves dogs.

But Bailey totally demeans herself for her potential boyfriends in the sense that she doesn't stand up for herself. As I said, she becomes whatever they want her to be. She takes up running for #1, but not because she likes it. She becomes a Jazz lover and tries to read what looked like a thousand page book for #2. And she becomes a total wimp for #3.

The one we presume she finally ends up with, she barely knows, and neither does the viewer. We had no chance to see a relationship develop beyond their mutual love of dogs.

Piece of trivia - Bailey gushes about the book Wuthering Heights to her students. Erika Christensen appeared as Cate in the TV movie.

It is an interesting and somewhat different story. I wanted to like it. But by the last 45 minutes (of 2 hr. TV time) I couldn't stand to watch her give herself away any more.

Finding the right one

[TheLittleSongbird · 5/10 · 3 January 2024]

'My Boyfriend's Dogs' (2014)

Opening thoughts: The previous 2014 Hallmark films varied in quality. While 'A Ring in Spring' was a real winner, there was also the disaster that was 'My Gal Sunday'. Was not sure how 'My Boyfriends' Dogs' was going to turn out, despite the title sounding very charming the premise was less so and was one that could go either way. There were elements that had potential to be charming, but others that could be potentially cruel. Was certainly not expecting it to be original, Hallmark did similar stories since (films though seen prior to this) with variable success.

Feelings were very mixed regarding 'My Boyfriends' Dogs'. It is watchable, has its good moments and good aspects, and is a long way from being one of the worst 2014 Hallmark films. It is however also not a good film really at all (hardly surprising that reviews are very divided here), and has too many significant drawbacks to recommend. So also not one of the best 2014 Hallmark films. Ranking it, it is middling middle of the road, with some good and some bad.

Good things: As already indicated, 'My Boyfriends' Dogs' does have good things. Erika Christensen is a very likeable lead and shows a lot of charm. Teryl Rothery and Joyce DeWitt bring zest and class to their roles and most of the male cast (despite their characters being sketchily developed) are amiable and easy going. The dogs are absolutely adorable and it is very hard to not fall in love with them.

'My Boyfriends' Dogs' looks good, especially the scenery, and the music which not unforgettable is pleasant enough and fits.

Bad things: However, too many things do not work. Tyron Leitso struggles to inject much personality into a very underwritten role and comes over as bland. All the boyfriends could have been developed much more, but his was the character that was practically anonymous. While having no problem with Jeremy Guilbaut and finding him amiable, his character's attitude regarding his feeling about dogs came over as pretty jerk-ish. None of the romantic chemistry is convincing, too low key and too little time is devoted to all the relationships which were all underwritten and underused.

Especially between Christensen and Leitso. Christensen's character is without issue most of the time, but she does come over later as too over eager and easily fooled. The script goes too far on the cheese and sappiness and doesn't always flow, while the story promised more than it delivered. It sounded refreshingly different, but executes everything in too conventional and formulaic a fashion, it could have done with more light hearted-ness (taking itself too seriously on the whole) and any tension is too polite.

Closing thoughts: In conclusion, watchable but average.

5/10.

Boyfriends and Dogs and Wuthering Heights!

[Sylviastel · 6/10 · 26 August 2018]

Erika Christensen played Bailey, a public high school English or language arts teacher. She arrived with her dogs at diner at closing time in a wedding dress. She begins to tell the story of what happened to Joyce Dewitt's Nikki and the diner owner Louie. It's a sweet tale with not much saccharine like other Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. It's a nice sweet overall film about relationships. The cast do a great job. I wished the storyline was better told though. The characters are somewhat developed more than most in these kind of films without using cheap tricks to engage the viewers. I am a Joyce Dewitt fan so I enjoyed her performance as Nikki. We don't see enough of her in film and television.

Fun, an easy watch

[juneebuggy · 7/10 · 15 February 2016]

This was a cute little Hallmark movie, following a Runaway Bride theme and aimed at dog lovers. Its an easy watch, the story is fun, if obvious and the acting decent especially for a made-for-TV movie.

It follows Erika Christensen as Bailey Daley (yes really) an English teacher trying to meet Mr. Right but failing because she keeps trying to be who she thinks Mr Right wants (jazz enthusiast, jock, golf pro, boring classics reader) not who she really is.

The movie opens with her running down the street with 3 dogs in tow in the pouring rain wearing a wedding dress. Baily finds her way to a diner where she proceeds to tell the owners her long history of romantic woes, explaining she's only found unconditional love from the dogs she's adopted as each relationship ended.- Loved seeing Joyce DeWitt on screen again here.

The story is told in flashbacks with Baily making bad decisions with men but gaining some great dogs along the way. As a viewer it was fun to witness her obvious character flaws and await her opening her eyes to the man that's been there all along.1/24/16

Hallmark has done better

[SnoopyStyle · 4/10 · 29 December 2016]

Bailey Daley (Erika Christensen) finds shelter from a rainy night in a diner. She's in a wedding dress with three dogs as she recounts how she got there. She's a high school teacher and French teacher Amber is her best friend. Dina is her widower mother. She dates new gym teacher Wade who has golden retriever Adam. He moves to Seattle with another girl and leaves Adam with her. Pet store owner Cole is running dog adoption day. There's meeting artist Jonathan who has dalmatian Eve. He's a snobby British vegetarian. They break up and he gives Eve to her. Finally, there's Eric. He is reluctant to adopt a dog from the store. His rich family picks out a pure-breed Shih Tzu. His dislike of dogs threatens to tear them apart.

Erika Christensen is an enchanting actress. Tyron Leitso could have been a solid companion. They could have solid romantic chemistry. The problem is that they don't spend enough time together. This is a Hallmark movie and the expectations are not that high. However, they need to give a romance time to cook up. All her other guys eat up screen time. There is a solid formula to this type of movies and this is not it.

One huge flaw--fun dogs

[Carolinewriter · 7/10 · 12 November 2023]

This isn't a spoiler because it starts with her in a wedding dress.

I would be fine with this movie if the guy left at the altar had ended up with a love interest (such as amber?) and also shown to be happily ever after in a quick clip Like they usually do in these shoes. He didn't deserve the pain.

Another of the boyfriends would have been a great choice to leave at the altar but the one she did leave was very sweet and a trainer could have solved the issues they faced. This ruined the movie for me .

Still I would show this movie to every young person starting to date. It shows you how useless it is to try to become who they want.

OK but nothing to brag about

[jewelch · 5/10 · 16 January 2021]

Another cute little romance, loveable main character a little hard to handle her Biggest Flaw, but cute movie about learning to be yourself and find love that accepts you. Ok watch but not great. James Welch Henderson, Arkansas 1/15/2021

Lighthearted and Warm Story

[greerg2004 · 8/10 · 18 October 2014]

I really liked this movie. It was not dull or boring in any way. This movie will definitely lean more towards women(chick flick) due to the romance aspect. I love movies with dogs as long as it ends happily. These dogs in the movie were great and fun to watch on top of it. I loved seeing Joyce DeWitt again on screen. She looks pretty darn good for 65. Teryl Rothery from Cedar Cove was exceptional and fun in her supporting role. The only one gripe I have is the lead character getting all the way to the altar with her last of 3 boyfriends, knowing the whole time she was uncertain about him as a lifelong partner. The Runaway Bride theme, I believe, has been overplayed one too many times.

And the moral of the story is...

[MickyG333 · 7/10 · 10 February 2024]

7.4 stars.

The moral of the story is don't settle for anyone unless you know in your heart they are the one. I guess this is the sort of advice that most people don't really know how to take, because how and when do you truly know if that person is the "one"? It's just not as easy as this movie makes it appear.

The woman dates a bunch of dudes, ends up with their dogs, runs away from her wedding (not a spoiler, it literally happens in the opening scene). She can't seem to find the right guy. Why? Because she's too giving, too easy going, a pushover. They say this is not the way to find your soulmate. I don't know, I'm still confused. Not a bad film, although I'd hoped for a bit more gratification and less disappointment, but to be honest this actually feels more realistic than most.

Predictably Sappy

[skt946-149-667921 · 4/10 · 11 April 2020]

I'm usually a sucker for these kind of movies, until this one. I don't know which was sappier. Her irritating merry-go-round ride looking for Mr. Right, despite her Mothers sound advice, or that predictable ending.

Not really a romance but still cute.

[rebekahrox · 8/10 · 14 February 2021]

Erica Christianson is charming as the young woman who has to kiss a few dogs before she finds her match. The whole story is taken up with exploring how her 3 boyfriends lose their luster the more she gets to know them. The last one makes it all the way to the altar. She finally finds her perfect guy who happens to have been in the deep background all along. I didn't like the way she didn't learn her lessons and because of that she was unfair to guy #3. Yes, he was obnoxious, but he doesn't deserve his fate and neither did his snobby family. I still give it props for not following the usual template, but I do wish she and the right guy would have had more interactions.

I loved the different angle on finding the right one

[cameliabusk · 8/10 · 28 January 2021]

I really loved this! It was therapeutic for me, I also have dogs and they are top important in my life, I am also single and constantly dating the wrong type forgetting what's most important! This movie was like going to a therapist... thanx really loved it

refreshing romantic comedy

[wolffhound53 · 10/10 · 19 October 2014]

Excellent example of the Romance Genre. There are no coy, misleading, misspoken or misunderstood words or deeds. It is easy to follow the love story, you see where the problem is and she solves it. Just like you would.

It's almost like real life. The characters develop and reveal their good points and bad points, nothing is contrived and sprung upon the viewer out of nowhere. I laughed at her mistakes, just as she did.

A thoroughly enjoyable movie and it would be nice to see the next chapter (nope, not going to tell) as walking off in the rain is not the same as riding off into the sunset.

((you know, along the lines of; will she learn to follow her heart? is HE the one? How many more dogs is she going to collect? Will her students finish Wuthering Heights? Can she get her money back on vol. 1 of Proust's 'in search of lost time' or is she doomed to have a 700 page book, of which she cannot get past page 5, haunt her book shelves forever? True it will stop any caliber of bullet up to a .308, but is that enough to keep a book on your shelf?))

A Nice 2-Hour Diversion

[carolynmcevoy · 8/10 · 19 October 2014]

Erika Christensen stars as a high school teacher eager to meet Mr. Right, but her search proves futile as she realizes her choices are not the best. The movie opens with Christensen running through the rain with three dogs in tow. She comes upon a small diner that just closed and-- looking pathetic and drenched, the owners allow her in. The movie is told through her recounting of how she came to the diner dressed in a wedding gown. Christensen is a lovely actress who fits this role perfectly. Central to the story are some cute little dogs, always a nice addition to any movie. Shot in a small idyllic town somewhere in California, this movie was actually filmed somewhere in Canada (Toronto likely, or Vancouver) and is filled with several fresh Canadian faces. This is a nice 2-hour diversion for the romantic at heart.