Beginners

3 Paws
Seen recently at the Dundee Theatre (still musty, still open)

What can I say about Arthur, the most expressive dog to hit the silver screen since the debut of the original Benji in 1974? Appearing in almost every scene, he reminds dog lovers of the reasons we have them in our homes - the loyalty, the lack of judgement, the love of even the simplest of things.

But the funny thing is, this film isn't about Arthur. It's about the choices we make in life and the joy that comes when we embrace who we really are and leave our fears behind. Christopher Plummer (Hal) may have turned in his most brilliant performance to date, and there have been plenty of them, dating way back to his turn as the stern, sexy Austrian in The Sound of Music. The entire cast was able to convey so much with so little dialogue, which also speaks to a great script and great directing.

I spent most of the film's 105-minute running time with a lump the size of a tennis ball in my throat, but it was a good lump, if you know what I mean.

Here's to good dads - gay and straight, ailing and robust - everywhere.

Bonus Bones: 50
Cosmo, aka Arthur, has done the man's best friend moniker proud.