Dog Park

What? Bruce McCullogh, Kid in the Hall, wrote and directed his first pic? Ben Stiller and Janeane Garafallo are in it? And Mark McKinney? Where do I go? How much do you need?...
Trying really hard to prove he wasn't the main creative talent behind Kids, Bruce gets us involved with a group of singles and somewhat-committed couples as they mingle in one of the 90's single bars: a park where everyone comes to use their dogs as an excuse to meet each other. The dynamics are structured around Stiller's failed attempts at getting hooked up with someone of the opposite sex, and include a "mystery" affair between two of the main characters. I'd tell you who they were, but you'll fall into one of two categories: people who read this and don't see the movie so they don't really care, and people who will see the movie anyway and don't want me to blow the surprise. If you are one of the latter, you're a sucker.
You remember how everyone always hated the kid who thought he was soooo clever? He'd laugh at his own jokes, but not at anyone else's; couldn't face the fact he/she was a failure at stand-alone comedy -- you know - someone like me! Bruce is that kid, and I spent most of this movie wishing for the Flying Pig to show up and relieve my boredom. Subplots were weak, and the main one was barely passable. The only real bright spots were in two scenes with McKinney, but they went on entirely too long.
This one is already out of second-run theatres around here, and I'm not surprised. Possibly consider this for rental when the networks are deeply into rerun season.

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