Because of Winn-Dixie

Passable family drama about a girl and her dog is too contrived (and bordering on treacly) to be entirely successful, but it is a testament to the veterans in this cast (Daniels, Saint and Tyson) that this works as well as it does; no genuine emotional beats to be found, and too reliant on HOME ALONE-style slapstick falls, but a pleasant, if unmemorable, experience. Robb and Daniels' convincing father-daughter bond makes you wish for a more serious movie centered on their relationship.

All I remember about this movie was that Dave Matthews brought a jar of pickles to a party. I think of this any time I hear Dave Matthews.

Pretty boring. I did think it captured a sense of place decently well.

Strictly for viewers who like cute dog/cute kid movies, but entertaining in that limited vein.

Cute family movie.

Cozy

Man I don't know what it is about this movie but it just bugs me. I don't like it at all, not anything about this movie at all. Wayne Wang is a strange director, I love some of his movies and completely dislike others with almost no middle ground at all.

It's ashame this is a kid's movie and not a horror flick, becuase every single character in this movie creeped me out.

B-

Saw on TV, so broken flow & I missed the beginning. That said, it's a cute enough movie but nothing really inspired. Fairly typical plot about a girl (with her dog) who brings a town together. I wouldn't mind though if there was more to the various subplots & characters. I felt we were "told" what we needed to know instead of it being there. The acting was good at times & the dog was really cute & had lots of character. I loved all the animals in the film. It was sweet but somewhat lacking.

A dog who smiles and Dave Matthews brings pickles to a party. What's not to like?

7??2017.1.14/AnnaSophia Robb?????12?????/"We should judge Otis by the pretty music that he makes and how kind he is to all them animals. 'Cause that's all we know about him, right?"

Charming story of a girl and a dog helping people deal with their sadness in life.

It's cute.

"It's like one half of a Willa Cather novel: The moral backbone is there but its social spine has been ripped out." - Ed Gonzalez

Great family/childrem movie. Warm and uplifting

A little childish and paint-by-numbers, but a solid entry in my "people being kind to one another" film festival.