Dog Days (2018)
Story overview
Dog Days is a lighthearted romantic comedy set in Los Angeles that follows the interconnected lives of various characters whose paths cross through their beloved dogs. The film explores themes of friendship, love, and community as these individuals navigate personal challenges and romantic entanglements, all with their canine companions playing matchmaker roles. With an ensemble cast and feel-good tone, it celebrates the joy pets bring to human relationships.
Parent Guide
A generally wholesome romantic comedy with minimal concerning content. The PG rating reflects some mild language and romantic situations. Most appropriate for children ages 8 and up who can understand basic relationship dynamics.
Content breakdown
No violence or peril. The film maintains a light, comedic tone throughout with no threatening situations.
Nothing scary or disturbing. The film is consistently upbeat and positive, focusing on romantic and comedic situations.
Occasional mild language such as 'hell' or 'damn' used in comedic contexts. No strong profanity.
Some kissing and romantic situations, but no explicit content. Characters flirt and date, with implied relationships but nothing shown beyond kissing.
No substance use shown. Characters may drink socially in background scenes, but no focus on alcohol or drugs.
Some mild emotional moments around relationship struggles and personal challenges, but overall maintains a light, comedic tone. Characters experience typical romantic comedy misunderstandings and resolutions.
Parent tips
This PG-rated film is generally family-friendly but contains some mild content. Best for children ages 8+ with parental guidance. Contains brief mild language, romantic situations without explicit content, and some emotional moments around relationship struggles. The dog-focused storyline makes it appealing to animal-loving families, but younger children might find some relationship drama confusing.
Parent chat guide
Parent follow-up questions
- Which dog was your favorite?
- What funny things did the dogs do?
- How did the dogs help their owners?
- How did the dogs help the characters become friends?
- What problems did the characters have, and how did they solve them?
- Which character do you think learned the most from their dog?
- How does the film show that pets can improve our lives?
- What different types of love are shown in the movie?
- How do the characters balance their personal and professional lives?
- How realistic are the romantic relationships portrayed in the film?
- What does the movie say about modern dating and relationships?
- How do the characters' interactions with their pets reflect their personalities?
🎭 Story Kernel
At its core, 'Dog Days' explores urban isolation through the lens of pet ownership. The film's diverse characters—a talk show host, a barista, a veterinarian, and others—are all emotionally adrift until their canine companions force them into unexpected connections. The driving force isn't plot advancement but emotional necessity: each human character uses their dog as both shield and bridge against loneliness. The movie's real subject is how we project our emotional needs onto pets, then discover those same needs can only be fulfilled through human connection. The dogs serve as catalysts, not solutions, revealing that companionship requires vulnerability beyond the safety of animal affection.
🎬 Visual Aesthetics
The cinematography employs a warm, sun-drenched palette that bathes Los Angeles in perpetual golden hour, creating an idealized version of urban life that contrasts with the characters' emotional realities. Director Ken Marino uses shallow focus to isolate characters within crowded spaces, visually reinforcing their loneliness. Dog-eye-level shots frequently ground human drama in canine perspective, while the editing rhythm mimics the unpredictable energy of pets—jumping between storylines with playful abruptness. The visual language consistently frames dogs as emotional anchors within chaotic human lives, using their physical presence to compose shots that would otherwise feel emotionally empty.
🔍 Details & Easter Eggs
💡 Behind the Scenes
The film's canine cast included several rescue dogs who were adopted by crew members after filming. Director Ken Marino insisted on practical effects for dog reactions rather than CGI, resulting in a 40-day shooting schedule to capture authentic animal behaviors. Several scenes were improvised around unexpected dog actions that made the final cut. The production coordinated with five different Los Angeles dog parks, filming during off-hours to avoid disrupting regular visitors. Nina Dobrev performed most of her own dog-wrangling scenes despite having no prior experience with large breeds.
Where to watch
Choose region:
- Peacock Premium
- Peacock Premium Plus
- Google Play Movies
- YouTube
- Apple TV Store
Trailer
Trailer playback is unavailable in your region.
