Whenever I see someone write that this is the first time they've reviewed a film, I always wonder wonder what film would make me take that step. This is it.
I just finished watching it. I set my DVR to program a bunch of the "Stars in Shorts" films the other day, and this was the first one. I knew nothing about it in advance. As I watched it, I knew I recognized the leads, but couldn't think of their names, and figured I'd check out the credits at the end. My DVR cut it off! After I finished sobbing (from the film not my DVR) I wanted to recommend it to my friends, but I didn't know the title because my DVR started it a little late as well. I had no idea how I was going to be able to find out anything about it. I went to the "Stars in Shorts" website and couldn't see it listed. Luckily I remembered that Garry Marshall and Stephen Collins were in it as well so I was able to find it that way on IMDb.
I was about to link it to my friends, but I read the description and I feel there's no way the film can really be appreciated if you read that first. If I had read it I wouldn't have watched it. Math genius? Wounded animal? No thank you. Then I read the storyline further down the page, and that's pretty much the movie. Talk about spoilers! Why watch it if you're just going to describe it right there?
I was already a Jason Clark fan (even if I couldn't remember his name) from Brothers, but I think his performance in this was flawless. I can't believe a story this powerful can be expressed so fully in so short a time. Everyone associated with this film deserves an award...even the dog :) I think it's remarkable how Howard's struggle in the days after seeing the dog are as clear as day without him having said a word about it.
I don't know how to end this, but I want to tell the "powers that be" that something should be done about the description and storyline. Maybe something simple like, "An unexpected encounter changes a man's life forever." I don't think ANYTHING should be given away.
