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Sun Dogs (2017 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Sun Dogs' is a 2017 American comedy-drama film written by Raoul McFarland and starring Michael Angarano, Melissa Benoist, Xzibit, Allison Janney, and Ed O'Neill. The film marks the feature film directorial debut of actress Jennifer Morrison, who also plays a supporting role in the film. The film premiered at the LA Film Festival in June 2017 and was released on Netflix on April 6, 2018.
Plot
Ned Chipley (Angarano) has learning difficulties, living with his mother Rose (Janney) and his stepfather Bob Garrity (O'Neill). Ned's birthday is on September 11, so tries to enlist in the Marines every year. Rejected, he cancels his birthday dinner and goes to work at the casino. Bob can't work, being in a lawsuit against his truck-driving company for his back injuries. Rose, is frustrated, but stays strong for Ned.
In Ned's latest attempt to enlist, Staff Sergeant Jenkins (Xzibit) tells Ned about a fictitious unit known as "Sun Dogs" that watch over Al Qaeda cells in the US, knowing about Ned's desire to "save lives". Ned believes him, passing out cards, telling everyone he meets to "stay vigilant". Ned also encourages Rose to follow her dreams to become an EMT and move to NYC. Rose realizes that she can do it and has been using Ned as an excuse to stay behind, agreeing to go.
At the casino, Ned approaches Tally Petersen (Benoist), a girl constantly thrown out for speaking with customers, and tells her about his mission. Believing Ned to be a marine, she helps with the 'investigation'. They become close on stakeouts, when Ned mistakes his boss, Sameer Udday, for an Al-Qaeda agent.
After multiple stakeouts, trailing Udday everywhere he goes, filming him and his activities. Tally, talented at filmmaking, makes and edits videos they submit as "evidence" to Jenkins. They eventually sneak back into the casino. When caught, Tally is almost arrested for trespassing until Ned uses the sleeper hold on the security guard. Ned gets fired and Bob bails him out of jail. Tally is grateful to Ned and even more convinced that he is a Marine.
Ned invites Tally to Thanksgiving, but she is initially hesitant as she knows Bob. When it starts storming, Ned and Tally take shelter indoors where Tally talks about her mother. She felt invisible and wrote that if anyone said hello to her before she reached the bridge, she wouldn't kill herself (which she ended up doing). Tally declares Ned is a caring person and that he would've seen her and said Hi. Realizing that she cares about him, she accepts the dinner invite.
At Thanksgiving, Bob is clearly displeased. Rose, after learning of Tally's filmmaking talents, suggests applying to film school. Seeing that she genuinely cares for Ned, she decides not to spill the truth. Later, Bob is shocked that Rose has accepted a job as an EMT in NYC. Rose says it's time for her to find her calling, as Bob is still waiting on the lawsuit. Rose kisses Bob goodbye before leaving.
When Tally receives a transcript of the video recording of Udday's conversation after they mistakenly believe that there was going to be a second Al-Qaeda attack, she goes to Ned's, finding Bob there. Bob tells Tally the truth about Ned. In denial, she finally goes into Ned's room, sees he is not a Marine, breaking her heart. Tally lashes out at Ned for deceiving her and leaves him heartbroken.
Ned informs Jenkins that he resigns, then Bob, seeing that Ned's depression is gradually getting worse, asks Jenkins to talk to Ned. When Jenkins arrives, he apologizes for lying to him and lets him know why he never allowed him to enlist. He then leaves, telling him to find his purpose in life. Ned receives postcards from his mother and Tally, who wrote to apologize. She submitted the videos from the stakeout to a film school in San Francisco and got accepted, inspired by Ned.
Bob buys a metal detector and he and Ned search for a gold mine. They go at night so as to avoid being seen doing physical activity. Bob ultimately decides to drop the lawsuit, then gives fatherly advice to Ned. To know his limits and set realistic goals.
Ned, remembering Tally's theory that if they could prevent suicides from jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge, in 50 years it would even out 9/11. Inspired by the story of her mother's suicide, Ned makes notecards with the phrase "HELLO, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?" and, goes to the Golden Gate Bridge, handing one of them to a woman who is evidently contemplating suicide.
Cast
* Michael Angarano as Ned Chipley
* Melissa Benoist as Tally Petersen
* Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner as Master Sergeant Jenkins
* Allison Janney as Rose Chipley
* Ed O'Neill as Bob Garrity
* Jennifer Morrison as Marie
* Eric Christian Olsen as Thad
* J. R. Ramirez as Staff Sergeant Kendrick
Release
The film premiered LA Film Festival on June 18, 2017. The film was also featured in the 2017 Austin Film Festival, SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Los Cabos International Film Festival, Cucalorus Film Festival, and the 2018 Mammoth Film Festival.
The film won three awards at the 2018 Mammoth Film Festival, Best Actor for Michael Angarano, Best Picture, and the Grandy Jury Award. The film also won Best Narrative Feature at the 2017 SCAD Savannah Film Festival.
Reception
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 80% based on five reviews. Sheri Linden from 'The Hollywood Reporter' wrote: "Morrison balances her affection for all the characters with droll naturalism and an assured visual style."
Renee Schonfeld from Common Sense Media gave a positive review, writing : "Jennifer Morrison's initial feature direction is a delicate movie, honest within the constraints of its fantastical premise. It focuses on relationships, compassion, and every individual's right to live a life of purpose. Sun Dogs is gentle, heartfelt, and skilled. Working with notable actors, she brings nuance and grace to what, in lesser hands, might have been stereotypes of America's struggling working class."
References
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