My Dog Tulip

This appalling animated movie is based on the memoir "My Dog Tulip" by the famed British writer JR Ackerley, who rescued an abused and neglected dog, a nervous and dangerous Alsatian. Unfortunately Ackerley knows nothing of dogs and learns little about them - he doesn't even really housetrain her well. If Ackerley aimed to shock us with his memoir, he did so, and the movie is horrid.Altho' he claims to love Tulip and calls her his "ideal friend," he is a terrible dog owner. He refuses to scoop poop, to take her to obedience school, to stop her from biting other people - including a child and his own sister - fails to stop her destroying houses, and terrorizing all and sundry. Worst of all, he doesn't spay her. Indeed, in his naive efforts to "breed" her, he deliberately creates 8 unwanted puppies and gives them carelessly away, making no effort to find them good homes or to ensure their care.He even beats Tulip several times. Dog lovers, beware! Watching him hit the dog was repulsive and I actually had to turn away. This is supposed to be a testament to dog ownership?It is exactly how *not* to own a dog. As a vet tells Ackerley early in the movie, "Tulip is a good dog, you are the problem." And unfortunately, this doesn't change.The art in this animated movie is charming: hand-drawn, in nice watercolor and carefree pencil illustration. But with a relentless focus on Tulip's messes and mating, it's not suitable for children. Most adults will be grossed out by the movie's obsession with dog mating and the constant cleaning up of Tulip's imperfect housetraining. Perhaps this is supposed to be the low British humor of a broad sort, which often can be droll, but here it falls quite flat. Instead one's heart cries out for poor Tulip, who appears to be cursed with only irresponsible owners.There is much gratuitous human nudity as well, including one sweetly drawn scene where the wife of a man who has a prize dog to whom Ackerley is attempting to breed Tulip turns into Europa and dances with a bull. Nice reference to the classic Greek myth, but it has nothing to do with the story at all.In the end the movie's just a mess - nice animation, but the message is so tragic, and the emphasis on poop and sex so relentless, it was struggle to make it to the end. The great voice actors here - Christopher Plummer, Isabella Rossellini, and Lynn Redgrave - are wasted. Absolutely cannot recommend this movie, which will shock responsible people who truly do love dogs and know how to care for them decently.

I loved the dog Tulip, cant go wrong with a German Shepherd they are the best. The art work is wonderful and different.But the movie gives just a little too much information. Really gets into detail about breeding and what the man thinks his dog is thinking. Just a little on the uncomfortable side for my liking.

This is NOT a children's film...it is a very sophisticated, beautifully animated, smart, inciteful little film that reminded me how happy I am when films are simply thoughtful. It is very much about a man and his dog...the day in and day out routines, the fixtures as it were of having a dog's life or blessedly, a life with a dog, which while it may be solitary, is anything but lonely.Based upon the JR Ackerly book  My Dog Tulip: Movie tie-in edition (New York Review Books Classics)  it will not disappoint.

This film is not for everyone and that is the way of all productions. You must be able to imagine and loose yourself from the bonds of your couch. I find that watching it as though I was a close observer in the film made it very enjoyable. Kill the distractions around you a walk along in the film. I liked it.

I loved this movie and the very creative drawings and of course Chistopher Plummer voice and story telling are the best. Anyone who has ever had a dog should lve this adorable tale

Loved the animation style - original and quirky. Christopher Plummer's voice is perfect as well. I've read the book but preferred the animated version.

This is an animated film for the art lover and the dog lover! It is unusual in every way--the animation is a work of art and it is earthy and very English... I read the book and loved it, and didn't think the author's voice could translate into an animated film but they nailed it.

This is not your conventional DVD. Not really to my particular taste. Enjoyed the music though!