There’s a certain original woof factor to the new Isle of Dogs and it’s not just that it’s helmed by quirky-genius, Wes Anderson. It’s got that pull-at-our-heart-strings/dog-shelter feel. We just want to adopt all those mangy mutts on the big screen. Anderson – responsible for such cult classics as The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel – this time delivers a canine universe of stop motion; his first since the 2009’s Fantastic Mr. Fox.
The story goes something like this… that ten centuries before dog obedience existed, canines roamed the universe. The humans spoke in their native tongue and the animals spoke in barks. Years later, ‘Snout fever’ threatened the population (and possibly all humans) so here we are today, and the dogs – with their Gund-eye sadness, are quarantined to the dismal Trash Island.
Life is hard out there for a dog left on Trash Island. The once housebroken pets take a beating while just finding a meal, and now that their dog commercial careers, and their show dog existence, and their LL Bean beds by the fire, have been stripped away.
Jupiter is a St. Bernard voiced by F. Murray Abraham. He’s what you’d expect of this loveable large-working-breed of dogs…wise and reliable. King is voice by Bob Balaban, and Oracle, voiced by Tilda Swinton, is a wide-eyed pug who understands TV, so she can predict things to the other dogs, like the weather.
There’s Rex voiced by Ed Norton, and Chief voiced by Bryan Cranston, the leader of the pack though a softie at heart, along with Duke, voiced by Jeff Goldblum.
Enter, Boss, voiced by Bill Murray, a scrappy mutt…the team mascot in his baseball jersey. Finally, there’s Nutmeg, an alluring purebred show dog voiced by Scarlett Johansson who won’t be dating the scruffy Boss anytime soon. Apparenlty her fur coat was imagined as a Gucci color.
They’re all in need of a good bath – short of Nutmeg – and a home to love them. Again.
But when a small boy a.k.a. Little Pilot (Koyou Rankin) lands in their dystopian world of Japan, the quarantined pooches (led by Bryan Cranston’s Chief) help him to find his long-lost, BFF named Spots.
Despite that bit of direction, it’s never clear what they’re real mission is. Going home? Stopping the likes of Professor Watanabe (Akira Ito) and assistant scientist, Yoko Ono? Yes, Yoko Ono! Or are they out to prove that the entire quarantine is a farce? They move in circles a lot and get in over their head, but it’s a long way getting to a satisfactory ending.
Nevertheless, Norton, Goldblum and Bob Balaban have appeared in three past Anderson films, but it’s Bill Murray who has takes the lead with eight, his first being 1998s Rushmore’s Herman Blume.
As with Anderson’s style one can anticipate the vintage soundtrack, the out-there characters aka canines, and the expected wit. But it’s also dark. If you’re an animal lover, stepped off the PETA bus, or a small child, this is not the film for you. Age 12 and over, please.
In the end, there’s few fleas here, good belly-rub moments and feel-good appeal to a tale that delivers something tender, whimsical and unmistakable Wes Anderson, or in other words, out of the ordinary. As always.