Strays

Wendy and Lucy is one of the longest short movies I've ever seen. Granted, I was tired and watching this alone late at night but still, at 80 minutes (including credits) I expected it to go by quicker. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it but be forewarned, there's a lot of walking and staring in this movie and not a whole lot more.

The script must be no more than 20 pages long.

Well you can't write a lot of dialogue when one of the two stars of the film is a canine who disappears for a majority of the film.

It's a road movie that never leaves the parking lot.

I enjoyed director Kelly Reichardt's first film Old Joy and was happy to see Will Oldham make a cameo in this one as a heavily eyelined borderline sociopath telling tales of Alaska near a raging bonfire surrounded by gutterpunks. After his exit it's a long slog through a sad story of a woman who has seemingly lost everything managing to find a way to lose a little more.

I just didn't feel too sorry for her. Anyone in her predicament should probably not have a pet draining their already empty and moth-filled wallet.

But love isn't based on logic and even though I can't identify with her situation, I developed great sympathy for her and the scenes with the security guard nearly broke my heart.

You just liked her haircut. I got tired of watching her mope around and endlessly call for her dog as she roamed the street of Portland. Boo to her and boo to the movie. It gets a 4.

You heartless bastard.