My Dog Skip

This is just the kind of movie people are talking about when they complain that there's no family friendly movies being made anymore. In 1940s Mississippi, awkward only child Willie (Muniz) sees his life change when, over the protests of his overprotective father (Bacon), he gets a puppy, Skip, for his ninth birthday. Amid much nostalgia and sentiment, Willie learns to be more outgoing and has many coming-of-age moments. Even if some of the plot elements are weak, the look and feel of the period is captured well, and Muniz does a fine job, although no human is likely to compete with the pooch, anyway. Kids will love the antics of Skip, and adults will enjoy having their hearts, and memories, tugged. Based on the book by Willie Morris.