Review by Nick Wheatley
Stars the voices of Christopher Plummer, Lynn Redgrave, Isabella Rossellini, Peter Gerety, Brian Murray,
Paul Hecht, Euan Morton
Written by Paul Fierlinger
Certification UK 12A | US PG-13
Runtime 83 minutes
Directed by Paul & Sandra Fierlinger
Unfortunately many people will instantly dismiss the prospect of seeing this film due to the very stylistic animation and the apparently simplistic story. You would be foolhardy to do so, for this is a different type of film to what you may be used to but it is a much needed breath of fresh air in the animation genre.
The film is based on the book of the same name by J.R. Ackerley who once stated that 'Unable to love each other, the English turn naturally to dogs.' This story revolves around an elderly bachelor, (Plummer) and his German shepherd as we see a bittersweet love story develop between the dog and its owner. The film has been created by a husband and wife team (Paul and Sandra Fierlinger) who have worked painstakingly on the project independently and achieved something rather special.
Now I did find the animation a little jarring at first. In the modern world of animation with studios like Pixar and Dreamworks churning out stunning visuals year after year. This was a bit of a culture shock but once I started focussing on the story and really getting to know the characters I found the animation fitted perfectly. The animation has a hand-drawn style that feels charming and you start to appreciate how it fits with the tone of the story. You also get the feeling that a tremendous amount of effort went into the production of it. It may not be visually accurate or realistic but it serves the story well and manages to be distinctive as a result.
The film itself is both amusing and touching. The film has a fantastic script and the warmth and emotion between both owner and dog is felt all the way through. The details of the relationship, as well as some of the more frustrating moments of owning a dog, are examined closely and it's these minor moments that really show you how much thought has gone into these characters. Furthermore the animation then visually enhances the story with some excellent moments depicted between the two.
Plummer has been casted perfectly in thie role with his voice providing a very soothing and relaxing narration also containing wit and emotion throughout. It's a tough job to carry off nearly all the film on your own, mostly narrated, so he must be commended for an excellent performance which we have now come to expect from the old pro.
The only downfalls of My Dog Tulip are that the film runs for around ten minutes too long. The story is limited in scope and focuses on a simple subject, by the end it feels like most narrative avenues have been exhausted. Plus even though the music was fitting within the film initially it started to get a bit repetitive, with many particular tracks being used numerous times.
Apart from a few minor issues the film opens up an exciting new area of animation and hopefully can help promote more independent and stylistic animation rather than many of the approaches Hollywood has been following, but if you'd like to see a love story with a different approach, a different visual style and a heart warming story then check this one out.