Film

Two decades into a career of mining the varieties of human dysfunction, celebrated independent filmmaker Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse, Happiness) casts new light on the grotesque suburban landscape through the eyes of man’s best friend. As a hapless female Daschund makes her way through a series of troubled owners—including a failed screenwriter (DeVito), an embittered octogenarian (Burstyn), and the resurrection of Solondz’s cult heroine Dawn Wiener as a veterinary assistant (Gerwig)—Solondz crafts an outlandish, sometimes surreal portrait of all-American malaise. Elegantly shot by Oscar-nominated cinematographer Edward Lachman (Carol), the latest comedy from one of American cinema’s most uncompromising artists is rich in existential despair, scatological humor, and unexpected compassion. An Amazon Studios/IFC Films release.