It's a simple film: no special effects, no complex camera movements, no explosions, or buildings falling down, monsters flying or running. No. Just a movie about a boy and his dog and how it's complex grow up, but can be fun, at the same time. "My Dog Skip" (2000) is one of that movies where you know will find emotional scenes or happiness moments, but even so you watch. Is it a predictable movie, maybe? Yeah, but this does not detract the shine of a story about a shy boy and his discovery of life. Willie Morris, or Will for his parents (because he don't have any friend of his age) it's a shy and alone boy, living on the calm town of Yazoo on the dark years of WWII. As he describe at the beginning: "Ten Townsend souls and nothing to do". Is this a nice place to live and grow? Not for Willie. Without friends, his life is empty and he's constantly annoyed by other boys. His parents try to understand the son, especially his father, described by Willie as a "soldier of Spanish Civil War, where lost part of his leg… and sometimes, I believe he's lost the heart too". His mom is sweet and understandable, trying to help her boy. Well, his life changes when he won a dog on his birthday. Called Skip, the animal will be the way of Willie understands himself and how to confront the world. Skip helps the boy to make friends, talk with his love girl and finally, be mature... grow up. This is the soul of "My Dog Skip". The director Jay Russell tries, at the first shoot, connect the story with his public. To be more specific: connect the characters with the public. When the dog appears, this important thing (connection) becomes more important. What does that means? It means that we'll care about the characters, their conflicts, problems… their lives. It's how if we could see ourselves on silver screen. To create a story, beyond the boy discover himself, Jay Russell adds a stolen of beers. The thieves are hiding drinks on the cemetery. But this part of the screenplay it's not so important than we discover how Will confront the life, the social problems (racism and racial segregation – we don't have to forget that the story takes place at 1940's) and moral conflicts (his best friend disinherits the Army and come back dishonored). All this things are seen by the point of view of a boy. It's a good movie, even if we know how will be the final, we see. Just because the director tried to connect the characters, the conflicts with the public. It's very grateful see this worry, a thing that, unfortunately, was forgotten by the directors and screen writers. "My Dog Skip" it's an old movie (have 15 years old), but must be revisited many times, just for understand how its important connect the story with public. Emotional, funny, sometimes sad, and the point of view of a boy about the growing… and how a dog can change the life forever. This is the soul of "My Dog Skip"!

I'm taking a creative writing class and we had to watch this film to learn about autobiographical writing. It's a cute story, but Kevin Bacon is the only actor in this film that can act. I've never been a fan of Frankie Muniz, but of all the crap I've seen him in, this is his worst. The acting was so poor, by not just Muniz, but all the children in the film, that it completely pulls you out of it. However, I feel that this is not entirely the fault of the actors, but also the poor director. Parts with large groups of people, say in crowds, seem incredibly staged, and cheering in a crowd takes no acting ability, thus the fault is in the director. If this wasn't enough, the character development is just as bad. By the end of the film, the only character we really know anything about are Willie (Frankie Muniz) and his dad (Kevin Bacon). Even Dink (Luke Wilson) who is an important character to the story and is Willie's hero, we know next to nothing about. This film has such a good story to it, that it's a shame the acting is so bad. I feel this film had a lot of potential in it's good story, but director Jay Russel, actor Frankie Muniz, along with most of the other actors ruined it.

Frankie Muniz plays a shy boy named "Willie Morris" growing up during World War II in the small town of Yazoo, Mississippi. Being shy and the fact that he is much smaller than the local boys his age causes him to be bullied and lacking any friends except a much older high school neighbor named "Dink Jenkins" (Luke Wilson) who he idolizes. When Dink enlists in the Army and is sent to Europe, Willie is left all alone. Realizing just how lonely he is his mother, "Ellen Morris" (Diane Lane) decides to get him a dog over the objections of his father, "Jack Morris" (Kevin Bacon). It turns out that "Skip" is just what he so desperately needs as they soon become inseparable companions through all of life's challenges. Anyway, so much for the basic plot. What I enjoyed about this film was the way it conveyed the importance this particular dog had on this young boy's life--sometimes without him fully realizing it until much later. Now, this movie certainly isn't perfect but it still manages to entertain fairly well. In short, it's an enjoyable bit of sentimentality that is suitable for all ages. Slightly above average.

I saw this movie for the first time when I was around 12 years old or so, now, 8 years later I saw it again, it was just an amazing feeling, this movie brings up memories for everyone who watches it. And this is what makes it so special. The storyline is perfect and it's a production made for anyone.I don't understand why this movie only has a 6.8 rating.It's far better than the usual stuff they bring out these days but that might just be an opinion.I love it!Hope this review helps you, It's my first! :D