Cricket sets out to tell us HOW TO KILL YOUR NEIGHBOR'S DOG

Harry here, and man... ya know what? This has one of the cooler titles I've heard in quite some time. I once had a friend who was obsessively plotting to kill his neighbors' dogs... He even bought this sonic rifle thing that he could aim at the dog from across the street, and it would send this ultra-sonic sound into the doggie's ears to make it cease barking. And at one point I heard rumors that he was attempting to acquire cyanide for the pups... So I'm not sure if this has anything to do with the plot of this film, but I do know that it's directed by the screenwriter of PRIVATE PARTS... Michael Kalesniko, so that may mean this has potential... But then the review says that as well....

I recently caught a rough cut of "How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog", starring Kenneth Branagh and Robin Wright. I have no idea who made this movie, as there were no big credits other than the actors' names.

In this witty comedy about, among other things, identity, Kenneth plays Peter McGowen, a British playwright living in Los Angeles whose wife (played by Wright) wants to have a baby. But Peter's life is his writing - he abhores children, to the point of running away from them when they're nearby. Not only does his wife pressure him, but he's been struggling with his current play, which is in rehearsals. Apparently, the director the actors feel that the "child character" doesn't sound enough like a kid.

During the course of the movie, several things happen that make Peter's life a hell of a lot worse. An eight year old girl named Amy and her mother move in next door to Peter, and begins hanging around the house (to Peter's dismay). Also, a mysterious man has been roaming around the neighborhood at night impersonating Peter, and causing lots of trouble. As Peter spends more time with Amy, he starts to warm up to the idea of having a kid around.

It may sound a bit scattered and plotless, but the film is a wonderful ride. The story flows from scene to scene, the dialogue is witty as hell, and thew characters are rich and realistic. They say good writers write the truth. In this movie, nothing at all appears contrived, phony or far-fetched (except maybe one scene with Peter's supposedly senile mother-in-law in which she gives him a piece of advice about life that could only have come from the mind of Dostoevsky).

It will be interesting to see how they are going to market this film. It will be tough, especially considering the title (which I love, but may mislead people). The movie should pull in the Branagh fans, at least.

All in all, it's a comedy reminiscent of a good Woody Allen flick. It's smart, and insightful.

Cricket