The Art of Racing in the Rain 2019 * * * 1/2

Director: Simon Curtis
Year: 2019
Rated PG
Rating: * * * 1/2 Stars
Cast: Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried, Kathy Baker

"This one, definitely this one". That's my take on The Art of Racing in the Rain. It's one of the most emotional and Forrest Gump-ed films of 2019. "Bible!" (that means facts).

Anyway, have you ever seen a drama where the dog gives the best performance and the dog's narrator gives the best speaking performance? And have you ever seen a drama where the concept of death feels a little more reassuring? "Racing" is that drama and at 109 tear-jerking minutes, it's my latest review.

"Racing", with Kevin Costner as the voice of the dog and Milo Ventimiglia as the dog's race car driver owner, feels like the kind of syrupy sweet endeavor where the syrup ain't too sugary. It's like Terms of Endearment and Wonder made a baby and called it Enzo (said dog's character's name).

"Racing" is feel-good fodder people, with a few dark turns (no pun intended), a story seen realistically through a whelp's eyes, and not a whole lot of actual racing. The casting of actors like Costner, Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried, and Martin Donovan is perfect and the Golden Retriever for which the story is centered around, will make your heart melt (heck, the pup even looks like Kevin Costner).

"Racing's" director (Simon Curtis) shoots this flick from a 2008 novel for which it's based upon. It's original and communicable combining stock car racing, demise of loved ones, family squabbling, and "man's best friend" (we all know dogs love riding in cars). Curtis is the master manipulator when it comes to pulling the viewer's heartstrings. Whoever he hired to be Enzo's trainer should get an Academy Award nomination of his own (is there such a category?).

Bottom line: You're not quite a human person if you can't enjoy a film like The Art of Racing in the Rain. According to "Racing", Enzo is more "person" than dog. Again "Bible!". My rating: 3 and a half stars.

Written by Jesse Burleson