THE MOVIE THEATER — I was worried that I may never get to review the film, “A Dog’s Purpose,” after weeks of promising my daughter I would take her to the screening.

The film was gaining positive momentum and then a video of what appears to be a trainer forcing a dog into a stunt the animal did not want to be a part of was released and things became heated. PETA was calling for a boycott of the film, online message boards exploded and Universal actually canceled the premiere of the film.

The producers of the film, as well as the trainers, said the video wasn’t quite what it appeared, but there was still talk of canceling the release. In the end, only the premiere was canceled and the film will still be released in theaters this weekend.

I don’t want to get into the problems the film has been suffering, but do think it is worthwhile to mention so that you can decide if that sways your opinion on seeing the movie.

Controversy aside, I want to tell you all about the movie and my impressions of it. I will start by saying this movie is about a dog voiced by Josh Gad and his multiple reincarnated lives that run concurrently with the life of his first owner played ultimately by Dennis Quaid. The story is centered around a dog's search for the meaning of life as experienced through a series of reincarnations throughout the movie.

The concept seems like a great way to tell a story that allows for lots of playful puppies doing playful puppy things. Unfortunately, cute puppies are only half of the equation you'll discover, as the reality sets in that for every cute puppy born, an old dog must first die. This is the part of the movie I don’t think a lot of us watching saw coming as evidenced by the audible sobbing and parental consoling that could be heard throughout the theater at the end of each of the dog’s lives.

Don’t worry, I am not spoiling anything that can’t be deduced from the trailer. I am pointing out how my lack of forethought created a mild existential crises in my daughter as she grappled to understand why I would take her to a movie about dogs dying.

Here are the reasons I came up with to help her understand why a movie like this should be made:

Everyone is here for a purpose

The movie is great at helping us see that we do matter in other people's lives by being who we are and doing our best to bring joy to others. Sounds kind of cheesy I know, but the message in the movie won’t be lost on your kids.

Related Stories:

4 finished films that were never released

Movies and controversy seem to go hand-in-hand all too often. Whether it’s because the content of the film raises a few eyebrows or because the lead actor decides to make some unflattering headlines just before the film's release, Hollywood is no stranger to controversy.

As I have learned from other children’s movies, if we can see life’s bigger lessons from the eyes of different species then maybe our problems won’t seem so big. This is a particularly effective strategy for helping kids learn about life and what to expect.

Life is short so live it

As I said before, it was tough to watch the cycle of this dog’s life spinning so quickly, but it was necessary to go through the bad to get to the good. It was a bit of an emotional roller coaster, but the ride was worth it. The lesson here is that to appreciate the happy in life, we have to experience some of the sad too.

Life isn’t always fair

I particularly liked how the concept of fairness in life was handled in this movie. Not all of the dog’s lives were particularly fair and sometimes he was born into difficult circumstances. We get to see how attitude can affect our destination in life and that circumstances aren’t a choice but our reaction to them is.

Conclusion

If you have ever wondered what the purpose of a dog is then this is the movie for you. Not only does "A Dog's Purpose" answer this question, it also takes you on a small existential journey you did not bargain for.

I guess the best way to sum this movie up is like being hit with “Old Yeller”, “Where the Red Fern Grows” and the part in “E.T.” where Elliot has to say goodbye all in one movie. On the other hand it is also like watching every cute puppy video ever posted to the internet each time the dog is reborn.

It’s a lot to take in, but “A Dog’s Purpose” gives us the happy with the sad in even portions, ultimately leaving us with happiness in the end. This is a unique animal movie your kids will appreciate by the time it is all said and done, but be prepared to answer a few questions along the way.

Related topics