“The Art of Racing in the Rain” is a dog movie you might cherish.
Since “Marley and Me,” dog books and movies have come back into vogue. Most are for pet lovers only, and this one doesn’t get a great review from Rotten Tomatoes. But it’s worth the ticket and your time to see the story of an aspiring Formula I race car driver Denny and his three other loves — a golden retriever, his supportive wife and their precious daughter. You could even be crying by the credits.
You will recognize most of the actors and certainly the voice of Enzo — the dog, who is voiced by Kevin Costner, speaking beautifully crafted dialogue by screenplay writer Mark Bomback and author of the 2009 book that inspired the movie, Garth Stein. Sure, you have to suspend disbelief — after all, it’s a dog doing much of the narration, but the story tugs at your heart from the day Denny makes him the pick of the litter.
Enzo, named for the founder of Ferrari, says that after being buried in the Mongolian high ground he will be “prepared to come back as a man.” Corny as all get out, but how do we know what any dog is thinking? And the love of this family and the coarseness of the in-laws drives the semi-autobiographical story line until Enzo gets his lifelong wish – to ride in a race car with his master.
Denny is the master of racing in the rain, which is the ongoing metaphor for life that you can either take or leave. But how he handles the turns of the wet track and the curveballs he is thrown allows Enzo to observe and impart his wisdom throughout. The plot lines are pretty obvious, if not the dog’s point of view, as reminders of right and wrong, loyalty and selfishness, strong and weak.
The sports lesson is that no race is ever won on the first turn, but it can be lost there without patience and forethought, and the camaraderie of teamwork is perfect timing as we head into the new seasons where winning can be anticipated but never guaranteed. All the human senses that are activated make it a worthwhile watch.
The movie being made was a pretty good ride, itself, finally produced by Disney after two aborted attempts by other studios. But to me, at least, the third time was a charm.
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