Alert
Close

You could win $50,000! First step — an easy retirement quiz. Try AARP's Perfect Path to Retirement Giveaway now!

Highlights

Open

Reebok

Members save on online purchases
and at Reebok
Outlet Stores

Brain Health & Staying Sharp

Watch AARP Live 6/20 at 10 PM ET

Tickets Icon

Tickets From Live Nation

4 for the price of 3

Technical Icon

Spanish Preferred?

Visit aarp.org/espanol

Find Your Perfect Path to Retirement

You could
win $50,000

FALL 2013
national event

AARP presents Life@50+

Come to
Hotlanta!

October 3 - 5

Enjoy three fun-filled days of activities while discovering your Real Possibilities!

AARP TV

Watch episodes of Inside E Street, AARP Live and other AARP broadcasts.

Most Popular
Articles

Viewed

Recommended

Commented

Movie Review: 'Darling Companion'

Like its central character, this film is lost in the woods

  • Text
  • Print
  • Comments
  • Recommend

    
Director: Lawrence Kasdan
Rated: PG-13. Running Time: 103 minutes
Stars: Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Dianne Wiest, Sam Shepard

Dog: man’s best friend.

But in his latest film, director/writer Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Big Chill) portrays the pup as a woman’s "darling companion."

Listen to the Members' Choice Channel on AARP Internet Radio - Now Featuring Dog- and Cat-Related Hits

Beth, played by a slightly overacting Diane Keaton, is lonely in midlife, her two daughters out of the home and orthopedic surgeon husband Joseph (never-been-so-good Kevin Kline) obsessed with his work. Then, Beth spots a stray collie mutt along the side of the freeway and takes him into her car — and her life. She and Freeway become inseparable; he offers Beth all the devotion and attention that Joseph does not.

It’s through Freeway that Beth’s daughter Grace (Elisabeth Moss of Mad Men) meets her soon-to-be husband, veterinarian Sam (Jay Ali in his feature film debut). After their sumptuous wedding celebration at Beth and Joseph’s equally sumptuous vacation home deep in the Rockies, Joseph takes Freeway for a walk in the great outdoors — without a leash. Enter a deer, and Freeway is on the run, not easily to be found. As if Beth weren’t fed up enough with her husband, she is now enraged. The remainder of the film deals with the family’s search to find Freeway and how, through that process, Beth and Joseph somewhat clumsily attempt to find each other.

Elisabeth Moss and Kevin Kline star in

Elisabeth Moss and Kevin Kline star in "Darling Companion" along with Diane Keaton — Sony Pictures Classic/Everett Collection

Kasdan’s cast of sub-characters is a delight. There’s the always-fun-to-watch Dianne Wiest playing Joseph’s oversexed sister, along with Richard Jenkins as her dorky but ever compliant boyfriend, and the local sheriff, a cantankerous Sam Shepard. But unfortunately, the subplots push the boundaries of plausibility. A psychic gets involved in the search. A commercial airline flight is rerouted and nearly crashes when a passenger spots the dog. And Beth dreams in animation about wild animals roaming the planet.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a complete sucker for dogs, and it thrills me to see one (who happens to be much cuter than The Artist’s Uggie, in my opinion) given a leading film role. This is a feel-good ensemble piece — something Kasdan is known for — but Darling Companion would have benefited from more original interplay between the people and, yes, the four-legged creatures.

Also of interest: What's the best pet for you?

Topic Alerts

You can get weekly email alerts on the topics below. Just click “Follow.”

Manage Alerts

Processing

Please wait...

progress bar, please wait

Tell Us WhatYou Think

Please leave your comment below.

You must be signed in to comment.

Sign In | Register

More comments »

Entertainment for
grownups

Movies for Grownups on YouTube

Catch reviews and clips of films in theaters now, or on DVD. Watch

Movies for Grownups Presents

Join AARP's Bill Newcott for a night at the movies every Friday, 8 p.m. (ET, PT) on RLTV. Watch

 

Movies for Grownups Radio

Download weekly podcasts of celebrity interviews, entertainment news and more. Listen

Discounts & Benefits

From companies that meet the high standards of service and quality set by AARP.

Live Nations

Members save 25% or more when buying tickets in groups of four from Live Nation.

Regal Cinemas movie theater

Members save on bundled purchase of small popcorn, soda at Regal Entertainment Group.

Members can save 10% off all Amazon Kindle e-readers and the Kindle Fire tablet.

Member Benefits

Members receive exclusive member benefits & affect social change. Join Today

Featured Community
Groups

MOVIES FOR GROWNUPS

Which 2012 film should win Best Picture? Discuss in Movies For Grownups Group

TV TALK 

What's on? What's hot? What's not? Discuss