How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog (2000)

A sarcastic playwright in LA gets new neighbors - single mom and 8 y.o. girl. His wife wants kids and babysits the girl. He doesn't want kids yet plays with her to find out how children talk - for his play. Paternal instincts?

Director:

Michael Kalesniko

Writer:

Michael Kalesniko

Stars:

Kenneth Branagh, Robin Wright, Suzi Hofrichter

6 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kenneth Branagh	...	Peter McGowen
Suzi Hofrichter	...	Amy Walsh
Lynn Redgrave	...	Edna
Robin Wright	...	Melanie McGowen (as Robin Wright Penn)
Peter Riegert	...	Larry
Johnathon Schaech	...	Adam
Kaitlin Hopkins	...	Victoria
David Krumholtz	...	Brian Sellars
Suzy Joachim	...	Allana
Brett Rickaby	...	Janitor
Lucinda Jenney	...	Trina Walsh
Stacy Hogue	...	Babysitter
Banjo	...	Baby the Dog
Peri Gilpin	...	Debra Salhany
Tamala Jones	...	Laura Leeton

Storyline

Shy, chain-smoking, insomniac Peter McGowan is a Los Angeles playwright with a string of hits that preceded his current ten years of failed productions. His mother-in-law is sinking into senility. A stranger is meandering the neighborhood claiming to be him. Neighbors have a new dog that barks all night. His wife wants to have a child, and he does not. He's become impotent. He's working on a new play when a single mother moves in next door with her eight-year-old daughter. His wife immediately invites the girl into the McGowan household. Will this child stir Peter's paternal feelings? Will she also help him get his dialogue right? And what of his doppelganger and the neighbor's dog?

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Plot Keywords:

neighbor | dog | doppelganger | girl | play | 

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Taglines:

One man's pet is another man's peeve.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Outside of festivals, this movie did not receive a major theatrical release and wound up going directly to cable.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Handler: Mr. McGowen, I think we're ready. This way, please.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits roll, there is a short break showing the scene portraying the dog after it had been shot. The director shouts "cut," and the dog gets off the ground and barks.

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Connections

Features Planet of the Apes (1968)

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Soundtracks

With You Tonight
Written by: Scott Nickoley and Jamie Dunlap

User Reviews

Laugh - I did, Cry - I did that Too

This film is so very well written & has such a great title that if it were to be widly distributed would be an instant hit.

I don't want to give the plot away (so I wont) but I will say that the performances are real. Branagh is superb, Wright-Penn is excellent & all concerned add to the film with out a bad apple among them.

The use of the English Language is such a welcome treat. So many people write as if the audience are idiots, & so it's refreshing to find an intelligently written, clever movie.

Please go & see this film. It's so very good.

Details

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 2003 (France)

Also Known As:

How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$18,956, 24 February 2002

Gross USA:

$49,894

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$73,510

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG, Lonsdale Productions, Millennium Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1