A Dog's Purpose (2017)
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A dog experiences multiple reincarnations over several decades, seeking to find its true purpose while bonding with the same human family in different forms.
The story
In the 1950s, a feral puppy begins a journey of discovery that leads to a series of reincarnations. After being rescued by a young boy named Ethan and his mother, the dog, known as Bailey, forms a deep bond with the boy. As the years pass and the characters face various life challenges, the dog is reborn in different forms—including a police dog and a pet in a different city—while retaining memories of its past lives. Each life brings new owners and new challenges, but the dog remains driven by a search for its ultimate purpose while navigating the complexities of human lives and the passage of time.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The story follows a dog's journey through multiple lives. In the 1950s, a feral puppy is eventually rescued by Ethan Montgomery and his mother, becoming Bailey. Over the years, Ethan faces a difficult home life and a tragic accident that ends his athletic career, while Bailey remains his constant companion. After Bailey dies, he is reborn as a German Shepherd named Ellie in the late 1970s, serving as a police dog. He is later reborn as a Corgi named Tino in the 1980s, living with a woman named Maya. Finally, in 2014, he is reborn as a St. Bernard/Australian Shepherd mix named Waffles. After being abandoned by his owner, Waffles wanders back to the farm where he lived as Bailey. He eventually reunites with an elderly Ethan, who recognizes him through old tricks. The film concludes with Ethan and his long-lost love, Hannah, reuniting and marrying, as the dog finally finds his purpose.
- First release year
- 2017
- Runtime (minutes)
- 100
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lasse Hallström
- Writers
- W. Bruce Cameron · screenplay; Cathryn Michon · screenplay; Audrey Wells · screenplay; Maya Forbes · screenplay; Wally Wolodarsky · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Britt Robertson · Hannah; KJ Apa · teenager Ethan Montgomery; John Ortiz · Carlos Ruiz; Dennis Quaid · Ethan Montgomery; Josh Gad · Bailey, Ellie, Tino and Buddy; Juliet Rylance · Elizabeth Montgomery; Bryce Gheisar · eight-year-old Ethan Montgomery; Peggy Lipton · Hannah
- Genres
- adventure; comedy; drama
- Themes
- loyalty; grief; reincarnation
- Tone and mood
- sentimental
- Setting
- Various locations in the United States across the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 2014.
- Premise and plot tags
- fantasy; animal-centric
- Source material / true-story basis
- 2010 novel of the same name by W. Bruce Cameron
- Franchise connections
- A Dog's Journey
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the performances and score while others criticized the plot.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 35% · scale: percentage · review count: 147; Metacritic · score: 43 · scale: 100 · review count: 32; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to feature Bradley Cooper as the dog's inner voice.; It was Peggy Lipton's final film role before her death in 2019.; The film was released in 2017 and grossed $205 million worldwide.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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