The Big Dead Dog
The Big Dead Dog

Movie spotlight

The Big Dead Dog

1981
Movie
93 min
Spanish

In a small town a dead dog lays on the middle of the main street. A bureaucratic process begins to determine who is responsible for removing it

Insights

IMDb5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes45%
Metacritic52/100
Google Users65%
Director: Stanley DonenGenres: Comedy, Mystery

Plot Summary

A washed-up movie star, who is deeply in debt, fakes his own death to escape his creditors. However, his plan goes awry when he discovers that his fake death has actually made him more popular than ever, leading to a series of comedic complications.

Critical Reception

The Big Dead Dog was met with a mixed to negative reception from critics, who found its premise amusing but ultimately underdeveloped. Audiences were similarly divided, with some appreciating its comedic elements and the performances of its lead actors, while others found the plot to be predictable and lacking in originality.

What Reviewers Say

  • The film boasts a charming central performance and a humorous premise, but struggles with pacing and a predictable narrative.

  • While it has moments of genuine wit, 'The Big Dead Dog' ultimately falls short of its potential, relying too heavily on familiar comedic tropes.

  • The chemistry between the lead actors provides some entertainment, though it cannot fully compensate for the script's weaknesses.

Google audience: Google users generally found the film to be a lighthearted comedy with some enjoyable performances, particularly from Burt Reynolds. However, many noted that the plot was predictable and that the film did not offer anything particularly new or innovative in its genre.

Fun Fact

The film's original script was intended as a vehicle for director Stanley Donen's more serious dramatic ambitions, but studio interference and the desire to capitalize on Burt Reynolds' popular image led to significant tonal shifts during production.

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