My Dog Skip *** (2000, Frankie Muniz, Diane Lane, Luke Wilson, Kevin Bacon) – Classic Movie Review 1917

Director Jay W Russell’s 2000 children’s movie stars Frankie Muniz (from TV’s Malcolm in the Middle), who leads a starry cast in a cute, heart-warming coming-of-age tale.

It’s the true-life story of friendship between a shy, gawky eight-year-old boy Willie Morris (Muniz) and a loveably cheeky terrier pup Skip (Moose, who plays Eddie in Frasier), in which good triumphs over evil and friendship overcomes adversity. Skip helps Willie turn bullies into friends, reconcile his friendship with the heroic soldier Dink Jenkins (Luke Wilson), and even win the affections of the prettiest girl in school.

Set during the 40s in the small town of Yazoo, Mississippi, the affectionate and moving story should appeal to sentimental adults as well as kids. Gail Gilchrist’s screenplay is based on the childhood memoir by Pulitzer-prizewinning US author Willie Morris. Diane Lane and Kevin Bacon also star as his parents Ellen and Jack Morris, while Mark Beech, Cody Linley, Clint Howard, Caitlin Wachs and  Susan Carol Davis co-star.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1917

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