OK, boys, it’s the bottom of the ninth and we’re down 20 runs. But I have confidence in you! I … nevermind.
The quirky Isle Of Dogs (2018) is a story from the other viewpoint – the viewpoint of the dogs exiled to the island off the coast of Megasaki, a city that was infested with sick dogs. Unfortunately, the story is a bit muddled as viewpoints change from dogs to the young humans who oppose the Mayor of Megasaki’s plans to massacre the dogs on the Isle of Dogs. Is this a story about the inscrutability of humans to dogs, and how dogs have to accommodate their masters, and thus gain the sense of purpose which acts as a barrier to the waves of ennui which threatens all sentient beings?
Or is it an inquiry into the atmosphere and results of a corrupt political machine? Do the ideals of the students who form the heart of the resistance to the evil plans of the mayor fade with age, or what? Unfortunately, the or what part is pivotal because our exposure to the human part of this movie is limited to the mayor and his minions, the scientific team who discovers the cure for the sick dogs and whose work is suppressed and leader assassinated, and the children who are devoted to dogs and truth. Is it truly vote-rigging which results in the re-election of the mayor? Or a populace persuaded by the skillful lies of the mayor, who have forgotten the companionship of the venerable dog?
In the end, the strongest thematic material is the value of persistence, and while the dogs and kid who’s searching for his personal dog on the island are charming, and some of the visuals are quite striking, in the end I cannot say I was moved by this movie. For all that there’s good self-consciousness, a couple of fun taiko drumming sequences, and interesting dialog, at its heart the story isn’t strong enough. Despite its exotic taste, this script needed at least one more draft in order to identify, clarify, and extend the theme of this story.
And that’s too bad. There are some strong elements present.
