Todd Solondz’s ‘Wiener-Dog’ is an Unsettling Masterwork of Dark Comedy

GameStop, Inc.

wiener-dog-002

Some filmmakers don’t have much interest in making the audience feel good about what they’re seeing on screen. I’m not talking about filmmakers like Steve McQueen who focuses his works on stories of pain and suffering. No, I’m talking about filmmakers like Todd Solondz, seemingly the heir apparent to filthy throne one reigned upon by John Waters. Throughout his career, Soldondz has shunned conventionality in favor of his darkly comedic stories featuring moments that operate with equal parts shock and disgust with a complete neglect for good taste. All of which, mind you, isn’t a bad thing as evidenced by Solondz’s latest movie Wiener-Dog, a twisted series of vignettes featuring broken people in broken relationships musing about mortality. The only connective tissue aside from the thematics of these stories are the adorable little wiener-dog that frequently changing ownership. As much I personally enjoyed Wiener-Dog, I must suggest caution to those unfamiliar with films of Todd Solondz.

The first segment of Wiener-Dog features a well-to-do family living in a posh, expansive suburban home. The father, Danny (Tracy Letts), has just gotten his son Remi (Keaton Nigel Cooke) a wiener-dog for a present much to the chagrin of his wife Dina (Julie Delpy). Remi has just overcome a battle with an illness and quickly forms a bond with his new pet. Meanwhile, the tension between his parents is palpable. Dina imparts life lessons to her inquisitive son, often in an extremely questionable manner aiding the film’s dark comedic overtones. When young Remi unwittingly give the wiener-dog a piece of a granola bar, the dog’s digestive system is ravaged with spouts of uncontrollable diarrhea – the dog’s illness amply illustrated with long tracking shots of the trail of liquid feces left behind. With little recourse to help the ailing pet, Remi’s father takes the dog to the vet to be put down, teaching the young boy a lesson about life and death.

Fear not for at the vet’s office, Dawn Wiener (Greta Gerwig) takes pity on the ill wiener-dog and takes him home where she nurses her back to health. A chance encounter with Brandon (Kieran Culkin), an old acquaintance from high school, takes the two on a road trip to Ohio, wiener-dog nestled on Dawn’s lap. Though Gerwig’s character shares the name of Heather Matarazzo’s character from Welcome to the Dollhouse, it’s not entirely clear if Solondz is toying with the audience by reusing the same name or reviving the character in this segment of the film. (Solondz has done similar thing with his film Palindromes, which featured multiple actors in the same role, including Dawn Wiener.) Brandon is aloof towards the wide-eyed Dawn as they drive to visit his brother Tommy (Connor Long) and sister-in-law April (Bridget M. Brown), a happily married couple with Down syndrome. Brandon has come this way to impart some bad news for his brother, and continues the film’s themes of broken people and issues of mortality.

Next, the wiener-dog finds herself in the possession of Dave Schmerz (Danny DeVito), a struggling screenwriter who makes a living teaching screenwriting a New York university. His calls to his agents go unanswered, or when they are answered he’s given a form of the run around. At the university his professional life is also in shambles, with a younger generation of students failing to be grasped by his repetitive form of writing critique. Making matters worse, his health is leaving much to be desired and his efforts to live healthier are futile. Schmerz is heading towards a fall, and I won’t dare spoil how it comes about.

Finally, the wiener-dog comes into the possession of an elderly woman known simply as Nana (Ellen Burstyn). She has bestowed the name Cancer upon the dog, and grumpily bides her time in her residence. Nana is visited by her granddaughter Zoe (Zosia Mamet), who has come seeking money from her grandmother to help fund her artist boyfriend Fantasy’s (Michael James Shaw) next project. There’s a distance between these two generations, it’s cold and quiet in its confrontational overtones. Once again, we have broken people and the grim shadow mortality hanging over everything that happens on the screen.

For those faint of heart, the ending of Wiener-Dog is truly questionable in its taste, which may be the reason I liked it so much. That being said, those with small dogs of their own might want to keep hands places firmly over their eyes during the film’s penultimate shot, one that lingers on the gruesome scene for an incredibly long period of time. While it may seem to many to be an issue of overkill, this final tragic moment is the culmination of everything that preceded it. It’s not a moment that is found is trashy horror films, where an animal is killed in a moment of cheap emotional exploitation. For a film that grapples with mortality, Weiner-Dog’s conclusion is the coup de grace where the adorable animal is granted its own chance at immortality, something that has eluded all of her prior owners.

All is not as grim as I may make it appear, Solondz’s film is overflowing with some really dark humor. In an incredible supporting performance, Julie Delpy contends for the mother with the world’s worst wording. Due to the nature of the film it’s unlikely that she’ll be in any awards contention, though I think that would be a grave oversight. Most of all, Wiener-Dog features an absolutely hilarious and insane intermission segment featuring the original song “The Ballad of the Wiener-Dog” and is without a doubt the lightest moment in the movie. For a film that is so determined to make its viewers uncomfortable in one way or another, Wiener-Dog is astoundingly entertaining while doing it.

All taste is subjective and I strongly believe that reaction to Wiener-Dog will vary upon those lines. Todd Solondz is grappling with some strong themes in the film and his nature towards provoking the viewer with ugly and unsettling images and story beats is somewhat eased over by the gorgeous cinematography by Edward Lachman. The fact remains that the films of Todd Solondz and Wiener-Dog in particular isn’t out to give you a passable little diversion at the picture show. Oh no, he’s going to poke and prod you repeatedly, make you laugh and then make you squirm in your seat. When it’s all said and done, the end credits rolling up the screen, you might just have a moment of some realization – or you’re just repulsed. Hell, that’s just life.

Wiener-Dog
  • Overall Score
4

Summary

The latest film from Todd Solondz, Wiener-Dog elegantly pushes the envelope of taste in four stories that explore fractured relationships and understanding of mortality.

Anytime Costumes

Leave a Reply

FanboyNation
Animation/Anime Interviews Animation/Anime News Animation/Anime Reviews Film/TV Interviews Film/TV News Film/TV Review
Roz Makes Her Return to ‘Night Court’ in ‘Pension Tension’ Exclusive Clip

Roz Makes Her Return to ‘Night Court‘ in ‘Pension Tension‘ with...

The Ninaber Bros. and Kristen Kaster Talk DREAD’S ‘A Knight’s War’ – Interview

‘A Knight’s War‘ from DREAD takes us on a mystical journey...

We Test Our EQ By Revisiting the ‘New Zoo Revue’ with Doug and Emily Momary – Interview

We revisit the classic 1970s series, ‘The New Zoo Revue‘ with...

Event News Event Reviews
In Love with ‘Shakespeare in Love’ at the Maverick Theater – Review

Fall in love with ‘Shakespeare in Love‘, the Maverick Theater has...

‘Tick, Tick…BOOM!’ Explodes on stage at the Chance Theater – Review

‘Tick, Tick… Boom!‘ has dynamite performances with a lackluster book that...

‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’ is Wonderous at The Phantom Projects – Review

Off-Broadway comes to North Orange County with ‘The Marvelous Wonderettes‘ at...

Automotives Football MMA, Kick Boxing & Boxing Professional Wrestling
Goldie Collins uses her ‘Animal Instinct’ in the WOW Tag Team Division – Interview

Goldie Collins and her Animal Instinct tag team partner, Katarina Jinx...

Top Tier Talk About the Season Premiere of WOW – Women Of Wrestling – Interview

Top Tier Talk About the WOW Season Premiere and being named...

WOW and Pluto TV Tag Team with a New Channel – SDCC News

WOW – Women Of Wrestling has a new tag team partner...

Adult Continuity Comics on the Can Cultural Junk Drawer Future Comic Rock Stars Is That Racist? Revisiting the Reviled THAT'S NOT ROTTEN! The B-Reel The Cantina Scene This Week in Crowdfunding What the HELL Did I just...?
Fantoy Comics Presents – Valentine month special featuring Luna Love good pt 2

I'm an Alpha. As my female I expect you to cook,...

Fantoy Comics Presents – Valentine’s day special 2025 pt 1

Ok you got me, I don't surf.

Fantoy Comics Presents – A REPRINT!

Oop!

Music Interviews Music News Music Reviews
John Dawson Talks His Cody Rhodes Inspired Song ‘Under All the Lights’ – Interview

Canadian Singer/Songwriter John Dawson Talks About His Cody and Brandi Rhodes...

Composer Youssef Guezoum Nominated for Two HMMA Awards – Interview

Moroccan born composer, Youssef Guezoum takes his adopted country by storm...

Isabella Summers Talks Composing for the Animated Feature ‘Hitpig!’ – Interview

‘Hitpig!‘ Composer, Isabella Summers Talks About Composing for the Indie Animated...

Enabled Gaming Gaming News Gaming Reviews
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Gameplay Trailer

The first Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League gameplay trailer was revealed during...

Wonder Woman Game
Wonder Woman Game Announced By DC and WB Games

Wonder Woman game will feature the iconic hero in a 3rd...

MultiVersus
MultiVersus brings Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny, and More

MultiVersus is bringing Shaggy, Harley Quinn, Jake, Batman, Arya Stark, Bugs Bunny,...

Comic Creator Interviews Comic/Graphic Novel News Comic/Graphic Novel Reviews Manga News Manga Reviews Novel/Novella Author Interviews Novel/Novella News Novel/Novella Reviews
Michael Hirsh Made Gen X Citizens Via his ‘Animation Nation’ – Interview

Legendary Animator, Michael Hirsh goes from Immigrant to Emperor in his...

Billy Eddy Talks His new Book ‘Our New World of Adult Bullies’ – Interview

Lawyer, Mediator and Personality Expert Bill Eddy Provides a Six-Step Strategy...

Gary Morgenstein Talks ‘A Dugout to Peace’ the Final Installment of his Trilogy

Gary Morgenstein Talks About ‘A Dugout to Peace‘ the final installment...

Apparel/Personal Maintenance News Apparel/Personal Maintenance Reviews Entertainment Product News Entertainment Product Reviews Food/Beverage Reviews Hardware News Hardware Reviews Mystery Box News Mystery Box Reviews
Relive ‘Batman Forever’ with the Spin Master Exclusives at Target – Toys

Celebrate 30 years of ‘Batman Forever‘ with this DC Comics Retro...

The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan Unveils Halo Collar 4 – Interview

Cesar Millan Unveils Halo Collar 4: A Game-Changer for the Safety...

Artista Cigars Unveils Name Change For Two Cigar Lines – News

Artista Cigars Unveils Packaging Redesign and Name Change for Puro Ambar...

Gaming Uncensored Toon-In-Talk
Episode 38: Hamid Rahmanian

Join Whitney Grace as she speaks with artist Hamid Rahmanian, who...

No Preview
Toon-In Talk Episode 37: Niki Smith

Whitney Grace interviews graphic novel writer and artist Niki Smith about...

Toon-In Talk Episode 36: Rob Paulsen

Rob Paulsen takes some time from his busy voice acting schedule...