SoftInloveRox Horrible, fascist and poorly acted

Ketrivie It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

trodon This movie is sort of quirky, starting in the middle of a story the characters and storyline is brilliant - along the lines of a less alternative and less bizarre Big Lebowski - Giovanni Ribisi is at both times a sympathetic yet annoying individual but for me Mena Suvari steals the shows - should we like her or hate her? Its difficult to decide. I am so pleased I found this movie and yes its not the blockbuster and probably not easily available in the local video store but its a must see for anyone who likes a movie they will enjoy thinking about after it over. Well worth it! Pure entertainment! ***** Watch it if not just to look at "Spot"!!

Lahhlay M Just roaming through the comedy section of a local blockbuster and picking out random films, mostly films I've never heard or seen. "The Dog Problem" was one of them. 15 minutes into the film and im thoroughly entertained. The acting is good, Dialogue is hilarious, and the plot is simple but yet interesting. I will say that Giovanni Ribisi is really underrated as an actor. He makes it look effortless. The same goes with Scott Caan on his Directing/Acting. "The Dog Problem" is an intelligent comedy. Very underrated. With this i look forward to more of Scott Caan's work.7.4/10

Al Rodbell Intriguing, and more importantly, believable dialog is the hallmark of this underrated film. I only learned after seeing this on TV that the writer was the Scott Cain, son of Michael, who played the hip photographer who was the buddy of the awkward introspective main character Solo, played by Giovanni Ribisi.The two, with their different personalities, still conveyed a genuine connection that was the sustaining thread of this pastiche of screwball comedy and character exploration. Solo is introduced having his last session with his shrink, depicted Don Cheadle.He follows up on the Doc's suggestion to get a dog and then begins the interplay of goons, ultra rich heiress, more goons, threats, strippers....all amazingly entertaining.And then there's the dog, credited in the film as "Jimmy the Dog" who plays his part with aplomb and deeply felt affection. His main function is to allow Solo and his romantic interest, Lola, to "meet cute" and form their own connection.-a bit of spoiler here, beware- Now, we are back to the writer, Scott Cain. I suspect that as he was dong the final edit it hit him, " This is a friggen Disney movie. I can't let it end, you know, Happy. That will never do." So, by destroying what we came to expect, and deserve, a Hollywood ending, he betrayed the essence of the story.So, this is my caveat to achieve my 9 stars. When Solo is in his new Hotel Room let's make our own ending. The hell with Scott's screenplay. Let that knock on the door be Lola with a heartfelt demand that they not throw away this chance for happiness, that they make a life, the three of them together.And then flash back in your mind to every movie that left you feeling good in spite of those tears in your eyes. Then, by this minor collaboration, we have one great film.

dead47548 I've always felt that Giovanni Ribisi is the most underused (along with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Zooey Deschanel) and one of the most talented actors working today. Further proof of that is his fantastic performance in this light-hearted, mediocre independent comedy directed and written by Scott Caan. The film centers around a broke, self-centered and hopelessly depressed writer named Solo (Giovanni) who after a year of seeing a therapist (Don Cheadle) five days a week decides to get a dog. Getting this dog begins a wild adventure that involves his best friend (played by Caan), a stripper whom he grows a strong affection for (Lynn Collins), her friend (the criminally underused Sarah Shahi), a gangster whom he owes money to (Kevin Corrigan) and a spoiled rich girl straight out of My Super Sweet 16 (Mena Suvari).It's a fun film about the true wealth of finding love with some genuinely hilarious scenes scattered throughout. I've never liked Scott Caan as an actor; I always find him playing the same arrogant, dirtbag character and I really don't like his sense of humor so that didn't help me in trying to enjoy the film. Also, while the subplots with the gangster (who we never find out how he got connected to Solo or why Solo owes him money) and the spoiled girl offer some great opportunities for Giovanni to show off his comedic talent, their appearance in the film ultimately feels like pointless filler. But the film manages to succeed due to the great work by the always underrated Giovanni Ribisi who adds so much charm, quirk and hilarity to every film he's in that it's impossible not to love him and it is pretty entertaining throughout.