DOG/ANIMAL MOVIES. “The Sheep Detectives.” / “Arthur the King.” / “Eat Pray Bark.” / “Good Boy.” / “The Wolf and the Lion.” / “Life with Dog.”

“The Sheep Detectives” (2026, Amazon Prime) mystery comedy, directed by Craig Mazin, based on the 2025 novel “Three Bags” by Leonie Swann. A flock of sheep try to solve the murder of their shepherd. A fine, wholesome movie that is adorned by fine performers. 

       The ensemble cast is led by Hugh Jackman, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, and Emma Thompson. The all-star voice artists: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O'Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, and Brett Goldstein. 

       Childishly funny, cute as lamb and sheep, and delightful as backyard weekend barbecue. Definitely a recommended family entertainment. Cute. 🎥💻📽

“Arthur the King” (2024, Fandango) adventure film. The captain of an adventure racing team befriends a wounded stray dog named Arthur, who accompanies the team on a grueling 435-mile (700-km) endurance race through the Dominican Republic. 

       The story is  based on the true story told in the 2016 memoir “Arthur, The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home” by Mikael Lindnord. Mark Wahlberg's Michael Light channels Mr Lindnord, who adopted the stray dog Arthur, ably played by dog-actor Ukai.

       It is impossible not to fall in sentimental shreds as Arthur joins Michael's team. I won't type up a spoiler but the movie ended happily. The warm synergy between Mr Wahlberg and Ukai is the centerpiece of this dog adventure-drama, which my heart easily embraced. 🎥👍📽

“Eat Pray Bark” (2026, Netflix) German comedy-drama series on Netflix. Set in the Tyrolean mountains, it follows quirky dog owners attending a training retreat led by the mysterious trainer Nodon. The show explores humorous, chaotic, and heartwarming transformations for both dogs and owners. 

       I don't need to elaborate. Pre-watch, the expected attraction of this cute movie are the dogs, secondary are the canines’ equally hilarious “moms and dads.” Anyhow, while the dogs are lovable as ever, the center of this movie are the dog “owners.” Moral: Dogs are generally fine. The problem is the humans who fail to rightly interact with them.

       This feature can be a bit sappy yet forgivable. So forget about predictability and cliches. This is entertainment.

       Notice as well the stunning shots of the mountain, which is Tyrol town in Austria. 🎥💻📽

“Good Boy” (2025, Hulu) independent supernatural horror. A dog named Indy attempts to rescue his owner, a young man with a chronic lung disease, who is engulfed by a supernatural presence lurking in his late grandfather's rural home. 

       Admittedly, I clicked-watched this movie because it is a dog movie, but only after I googled info and was assured that the dog didn't die in the story. (Sorry for the spoiler.) Nevertheless, I wasn't disappointed. Actually, Arrow watched as well in obvious interest and intrigue up to the last frame. 

       There's not much of a structured story here, just Indy (the retriever dog) leading us to whatever. And he did deliver a fine performance! And these: The technical craftsmanship, haunting production set (or design), and creative camera-work are clever and cerebral. High-five to director Ben Leonberg. (Indy is Ben's dog.)

       Expectedly, “Good Boy” was a box-office winner. It earned $8.7 million, for a measly budget of $70,000. I hope a sequel is upcoming. 🎥💻📽

“The Wolf and the Lion” (2021, Fawesome) French/Canadian family adventure. Alma returns to her late grandfather's cabin and finds herself taking care of a wolf pup and a lion cub who grow up together as brothers. 

       This is clearly a wholesome family movie so I knew what was up before I clicked. But “highbrow” critics just had to stick to their cold grading stick. They thumbed-down the feature-length runtime and frowned at what they think as “mixed messages about wild animal relationships amongst each other and with humans.”

       The Los Angeles Times’ Kimber Myers called the film "laughably bad,” as he/she lambasted what he/she saw as an “implausible script, odd framing and nonsensical editing.” Hey, Kimber, grab a beer and watch “Cape Fear” instead! 

       Yet we all agreed that the scenery is kickass as crafted by Serge Desrosiers’ photography. Molly Kunz as Alma is fine. Overall, director Gilles de Maistre, working on a script that he wrote with wife Prune, knew his audience. Children, mom and dad, and grandparents. Which I am, all of it. So I love this movie for what it is. Need I elaborate on its universal message? 🎥💻📽

“Life with Dog” (2018, Fawesome) Drama. After losing his wife Alice in a mysterious bike accident, Joe begins a fast descent into the dark abyss of uncertainty. But his salvation arrives when a dog wanders into his garden and won't leave despite Joe's many attempts to rid him. 

       The center of this movie isn't the dog but the grieving widower who talked a lot. The furry friend actor Monty is cute, okay, but he is simply a side ornament to Joe's irritating whinings. That'd be veteran sideman performer Corbin Bernsen, who also directs. 🎥💻📽