On my flight to Thailand I saw one of the most touching movies of my life, A Dog's Journey. Next to Spiderman, Into the Spiderverse, it's the best movie I've seen all year. It follows the sequential lives of a reincarnated dog who's on a mission to protect a little girl. In each life, he runs into her by chance at least once, all the way into womanhood.
The dog may be preoccupied by doggish things, but he has a big heart. And he's hilarious- his thoughts narrate the whole film, so we always know what's going through his mind, whether it's while smelling someone's butt, or a sentimental memory about one of his past lives.
Most importantly, it's one of the most moral movies I've seen. It does a great job showing people how to live correctly, and why you shouldn't take things so personally. As a father, I believe it's a movie every parent should show their children, to teach them the values of loyalty and selflessness. Also, reincarnation may be a fantasy, but it might be the best explanation of death for a child to understand.
I choked up on tears several times during the film, including the part where the dog's second life ends, when it's revealed that someone has cancer, and the return to the farm. It's a literal tearjerk fest, similar to Forrest Gump in its emotional power. It's also beautifully shot, and the acting's superb (even the dogs'). Yep, this is one of those rare perfect movies that make you feel grateful to be alive.
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