This is a sad and depressing movie. I lost track of the number of people that died. The dialog lacks emotion and rarely deviates from monotone. I kept with it to the end to see if any characters would hint at a smile; alas, I've counted more smiles at funerals. There is some strange recurring theme about cleaning out a cat litter box which was puzzling. If you are looking for something with a happy ending, you may want to look elsewhere. If you are looking for something depressing this will not disappoint.

In Texas, Jake decided to work while his wife Elizabeth and his kids went on a vacation trip. After a terrible car accident, only the black and white collie Cooper survived. The cop who found a veterinary hospital near Cooper's house didn't give enough information, so when no one responded when they called, they assumed he didn't care about the dog and, had there not been enough room, Cooper would have been put to sleep.In fact, Jake was so distraught over the loss of his family that he couldn't do much of anything for days. Janice (not sure who she is) finally got him to do something, and he finally showed up to pick up Cooper. Who wouldn't get in the vehicle. So Jake walked him home. And for reasons that make no sense, except for the fact that they allow Dr. Mason to be obsessed with Jake ... I mean Cooper, Jake doesn't take the vehicle home. Instead, he comes to the vet's office day after day to train the dog to get in the vehicle. And the staff keep watching him.At first, Jake gave us the impression he resented the dog for surviving when the rest of the family did not. In flashbacks, we see that the family found him and advertised hoping to find out who lost him. When no one claimed the dog, Cooper was theirs, though Jake didn't seem all that enthusiastic.Meanwhile, Dr. Mason has her own problems. Her mother has given up on life and only wants to drink. She is now in an assisted living facility with her gray and white cat. Could the dog eventually be helping her? Well, no. At least for now, the miracle dog is giving Jake a reason to live. And Jake, who didn't show up for work for the longest time, quits his job because he wants to do something else. He taught daughter Abby about photography and making videos Eventually he is shown at what must be Abby's school, and I assume this means he is a teacher now, but we aren't really told. But a computer lab has Abby's name on it.So where does the movie's title come from? We do know the dog was a desperately needed companion for Jake. But Dr. Mason still has her mother to deal with, and things aren't getting any better. And I get the impression she likes Jake, and vice versa. They have reasons to get together (for one thing, the dog does need a vet), and who knows? Meanwhile, what about the former owners of the dog? And what about the girl in the park who looks sick? Maybe this miracle dog will have other opportunities.This is a pleasant enough movie, most of the time. Sure, it is sad sometimes. Dr. Mason commented on how she gets emotional, and anyone who does will need plenty of Kleenex for this. But it is also a movie the whole family can watch.Jake takes some getting used to but he's mostly likable.Dr. Mason is pretty and shows us a whole range of emotions, but she mostly makes us like her.Nita who works in the office, is so nice and wears the prettiest tops. And if you like one, she'll wear it again at least a couple of times.Trey seems to be a nurse and he is funny. We do get to laugh from time to time.Cooper is played by two dogs, according to the credits. He's quite well trained.And Bobbie and Seth are a nice older couple. I can't say much about them because it's better to learn about them when the time comes.The music is mostly pleasant, although there is a lot of music performed by Peter Himmelman, who sounds sort of like Bob Dylan. Not really what I like, but not too bad either. One song called "Shine" is quite catchy and if adult contemporary radio hadn't changed so much in recent years, it would fit right in there.It's an okay movie if you just want to feel good.

I get really angry when I see a really decent movie being starred so low!This is one of the best TV movies I've seen in a long time!Its funny, its sad, its cute, its real!Actors did an amazing job in all of the roles and even though the message is simple, the movie is really likable and Im glad I've seen it (it first appeared as a child movie...) Im sure if you are one of those who don't necessarily care about big Hollywood scripts, effects and, lately, science fiction or vampires, will enjoy it as much as I did. I give it a ten, because it delivered in every way for me! If there was eleven i would give 12 ;) I have to write one more line even though I've said it all 3 lines ago :)

Sometimes it's hard to find a movie that you can take home and watch with everyone and be assured that the content is both interesting and appropriate. Angel Dog does these two things very well. I found myself very attached to the characters right away and interested in the outcome. I will admit I was already crying 5 minutes into the movie. Better to cry at the beginning than the end though right ? There are some interesting twists and turns as we learn the role of the dog in the lives of all the characters as well as the characters' associations with one another. The locations it is shot in (Texas Hill Country) are also beautiful and make a good backdrop to the story. Thumbs up to a great family movie !