Dog - Minority Mindset

Spoilers for Dog ahead.

As a devoted cinephile, I’ve always been intrigued by Channing Tatum’s versatile acting journey. From being a charming romantic lead to a staple in comedies and a reliable dramatic actor, he’s explored various roles throughout his career. However, from around 2018 to 2021, his appearances seemed less frequent, with only a few films here and there, often voiceovers or brief cameos. But luckily, he re-emerged in the limelight in 2022, this time not just as an actor but as a director, showcasing his debut film, “Dog.” Remarkably, he drew upon his personal experiences to create this moving piece of cinema.

In his initial film, titled “Dog“, there was an expectation for a lighthearted road comedy. However, the movie unfolds as a deeply emotional and heart-wrenching narrative about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the profound connection between humans and their pets. In this film, Channing portrays Jackson Briggs, a former U.S. Army Ranger grappling with PTSD, who is tasked with transporting his late friend’s military dog, Lulu, from Washington to Arizona for the funeral. Initially struggling with an untrained and aggressive animal, Jackson becomes friends with Lulu over time, which helps him confront his own tumultuous past.

Jackson Briggs Decides To Adopt Lulu At The End Of Dog

Lulu Helps Jackson Live With His PTSD

Towards the conclusion of “Dog”, following several weeks of journeying along the western coastline of the United States, Lulu and Jackson have reached a tentative understanding after sharing life’s adventures together. Despite their mutual dislike, they find themselves dependent on one another. At his friend’s funeral, the ex-military man stays near the dog, offering solace and ensuring she remains calm amidst the 21-gun salute. Subsequently, Jackson attempts to persuade Lulu to flee in order to evade having her put down. However, she resists and chooses to stay by his side instead.

In the final evening they shared, they stayed at a motel. During this time, Jackson suffered a panic attack triggered by PTSD, which resulted in a seizure. But when Lulu gently moved closer to console him, he found some solace. The following morning, Jackson left Lulu at the kennel, where she was scheduled for euthanasia. However, upon witnessing her distress, he turned back and decided to keep her.

Several months passed, and Jackson penned a letter intended for his beloved dog, disclosing that he had adopted her. In this heartfelt missive, he expressed gratitude towards Lulu for having saved his life.

Jackson has kept his distance from Lulu, the troublesome dog. He isn’t fond of canines in general and finds Lulu especially bothersome due to her misbehavior. However, their shared hardships during their journey reveal unexpected similarities between them. They are both war veterans who have endured traumatic experiences and suffered losses. Both Jackson and Lulu are guarded, reluctant to let anyone close until circumstances compel them. It’s only when they are forced together that they find a path toward healing. Picking up Lulu represents Jackson acknowledging his need for companionship or support in his life.

Dog (2022) Was Inspired By A Real Road Trip Channing Tatum Took With His Dog

Tatum’s Dog Passed Away In 2018 From Cancer

During a pivotal road trip I embarked on in 2018 with my elderly dog, a pit bull Catahoula mix named Lulu, who had been diagnosed with cancer, the seeds for the movie ‘Dog’ were sown. As our journey unfolded, it became painfully clear that there was little I could do to save her. I had to face the heart-wrenching truth that Lulu’s time with me was limited and her passing was inevitable. This profound experience served as my inspiration for the film, both as its director and producer.

You need to acknowledge this situation and appreciate the time spent together, understanding that nothing lasts forever. Meanwhile, it seems we each have our own journeys ahead.

This journey significantly influenced him in creating the movie “Dog,” serving as a means for him to process his emotions. From the outset, Tatum had no intention of ending Lulu’s life. He aimed to steer clear of those heart-wrenching dog films that conclude with an unexpected and emotional death. Instead, Tatum was more drawn to illustrating the development of a unique connection between a human and an animal.

The conclusion of a romantic relationship served as our muse, yet we were determined to narrate a tale about the onset of a new relationship – specifically, our extraordinary bond with our pets – and how those moments filled with joy and excitement have etched indelible memories of fun and adventure in our lives.

Instead of creating this film solely to delve into the emotional experience of losing a cherished pet, Tatum primarily aimed at exploring the broader topic of pets and the extraordinary connections that can develop between them and their human companions. Regrettably, Lulu, the actual dog, passed away towards the end of 2018. On his Instagram, he shared a monochrome picture of Lulu, accompanied by a caption expressing his feelings (as reported in People).

“I’ll see you again baby girl. But you’ll always be with me. Always.”

Tatum’s ex-wife, Jenna Dewan, with whom he shared custody of the dog, posted on her Instagram,

To our cherished and valiant Lulu,
Thank you for being not just the finest canine companion on Earth, but for bravely battling cancer with unwavering spirit. Your boundless affection, vigilance, and laughter have been a constant source of joy to us. Your spirit has led us through countless adventures together.
We are deeply grateful for every moment we spent with you and the love you shared so freely. Rest in peace now, sweet Lulu, knowing that your memory will continue to be cherished forever.

Ever since I dedicated my film “Dog” to the incredible Lulu, a Belgian Malinois, I’ve found myself drawn to her noble kin. Following this heartfelt connection, I’ve expanded my furry family by welcoming two more Dutch Shepherds, Rooklin and Cutie, into our home. Interestingly enough, these breeds share a close resemblance with the Belgian Malinois, making Lulu’s counterparts in my movie even more special to me.

What Tatum And His Co-Director Have Said About Dog

Handling Dogs Proved To Be Tricky For The Novice Directors

As a devoted admirer, I must share that, during the making of “Dog,” Channing Tatum gained a unique insight into the intricacies of our beloved four-legged friends. In an interview with SharpMagazine, he candidly discussed the challenges and joys of directing the talented trio who brought Lulu to life on screen.

Whenever we wanted our dog to perform a single task, it was straightforward. However, as soon as we started adding multiple instructions, things became more complex. For instance, when we asked her to pick something up and then walk to her mark, that was two tasks. If we needed her to pick things up, walk to her mark, and then walk out, we were venturing into uncertain territory, hoping she would comply and do it well during the take where our acting was decent enough for use.

In the movie “Dog”, Lulu seems to be quite the mischievous canine. However, compared to her, none of the real dogs appear to cause as much trouble. Getting animals to perform is no simple task, and so what Channing Tatum was able to bring to the screen is truly impressive, considering the level of difficulty involved. Tatum’s co-director, Reid Carolin, mentioned that they drew inspiration from several other dog-themed films while working on their project.

I hold great admiration for anyone who creates a film about dogs since it’s quite a tough task… In the movie Turner & Hooch, they truly captured the essence of that dog and the camaraderie between the two main characters, which isn’t simple to achieve. As for White God, the footage they managed to get of those canines is simply astounding.

Additionally, Carolin pointed out that each canine actor possessed unique individual traits. One of the dogs stood out as somewhat of a diva or high-maintenance performer.

In a constant stream, individuals would trail behind her [the dog], offering gifts to maintain peace on the set – it was tiresome indeed. A humorous incident occurred… Channing was performing his most intense scene with everyone maintaining pin-drop silence. Lulu, who was meant to join him, instead positioned herself over him and smiled while barking. This caused Chan’s acting to be accompanied by an off-screen trainer shouting, “Keep your head down, keep your head down!

Despite the frequent jokes about the challenges of managing canines, both filmmakers recognized that numerous issues that arose during production could easily be attributed to their inexperience as directors. Channing Tatum admitted this in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“I believe a dog can’t really make a mistake in a scene, in my opinion. This is because a dog simply behaves naturally as a dog and cannot physically mess up the scene. Essentially, we are asking it to behave like a dog, and we arrange the setting so it can just be itself without any pressure.” He goes on to say, “I’m almost certain I made a mistake in most things.”
1. Simplifying some of the phrases for clarity (e.g., “a dog can’t physically mess up the take” instead of “We are asking it to be a dog, that’s about it,” which may seem unclear to some readers).
2. Using “behave like a dog” instead of “craft the world around the thing so it can just honestly be itself,” as the latter phrase is more abstract and less straightforward.
3. Making minor adjustments for grammar (e.g., “I’m almost certain I made a mistake in most things” instead of “So I’m sure I messed up almost everything”).
4. Adding “in my opinion” to make the speaker’s perspective clearer, as it is implied but not explicitly stated in the original text.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, with an impressive 77% rating, it seems that the inexperience of the director handling freshman directing issues and dog dramas didn’t hinder their storytelling ability. The audience found enjoyment in ‘Dog’ despite these elements.

Dog Lovers Were Particularly Moved By Tatum’s Movie

Tatum Found The Experience “Cathartic”

A heartwarming tale featuring a dog and its owner was bound to stir emotions, and many viewers expressed their admiration for the movie and its theme on platforms like Reddit. User u/awaywethrowLA shared their thoughts after watching the film.

After watching a touching story about a dog and her owner, numerous viewers took to Reddit to express their love for the film and its message. User u/awaywethrowLA posted their reaction following the movie screening.

Absolutely, I cried so much that I wasn’t sure if I could continue watching the film. I plan to watch it again once I’ve had some time to reflect on it.
Even though my son had already left before that happened, your story about fixing something together made me think back to when my son used to help me in similar situations. It’s heartening to know that you both are there for each other now.
Though my boy wasn’t around when it transpired, your account of your efforts to fix things brought back memories of my son assisting me in such instances. I’m delighted that you two can rely on one another now.

u/Successful_Set4709 posted in another thread,

“‘Thank you for saving my life’ the ending made me cry so hard.”

Given that Tatum personally found the project therapeutic, it seems reasonable to assume he anticipated such a response, as he told Forbes.

As I walked out of the theater, the closing frames of the film lingered in my mind. The story had shed a fresh light on our shared journey, revealing not just who she was to me, but also her profound role in my life. It left me pondering the unique purpose we wove together during our time, a poignant reminder of the indelible mark she left on mine.

The 2022 movie titled “Dog” might not have been widely recognized, but it’s definitely worth another look, regardless of whether or not you own a pet canine. However, be prepared; this film could potentially leave you contemplating the idea of adopting a dog after viewing it.

2025-04-29 19:13