The Art of Racing in the Rain Forgot to Close the Windows and Now the Upholstery is Ruined

The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019)

The Art of Racing in the Rain is not a bad movie. It is well made, with good cinematography and good writing. It is just very unoriginal. It is an impressively predictable and emotionally manipulative movie that hits a half dozen family drama tropes. It covers the life of a dog, from adoption to death, as it assists its owner/friend, Denny, played by Milo Ventimiglia, as he faces hills and valleys in his life. Denny and his wife, played by Amanda Seyfried, carry the movie, but their interesting story is overshadowed by the dog’s inner monologue, voiced by Kevin Costner, who is kind enough to remind us constantly that dogs can’t talk or have opposable thumbs. This movie is like a person who makes everything about themselves. The story should be about Denny, who is a driver looking for a break while he starts a family that faces challenges at every turn, but everything comes back to the dog. Due to the formula, Denny, nor any of the other characters, are given an opportunity to grow. He starts strong and ends strong, with approximately 50 seconds of weakness throughout the movie. But the purpose of the movie is not to tell an intriguing story. The Art of Racing in the Rain is designed specifically to make audiences cry, by confronting them with common, realistic, sad situations that most people have already dealt with, or will deal with in the future. I will admit, it was very close to making me cry at a few points, and the elderly ladies behind me were sobbing uncontrollably. I can’t knock the movie for trying. The Art of Racing in the Rain is a drama whose only goal was to bring on the waterworks, and it is generally successful, which is why I can’t give it a bad score. I give The Art of Racing in the Rain 7 of the 12 years that golden retrievers are expected to live.