‘AJ Goes To The Dog Park’ (Fantastic Fest) Non-Spoiler Review – A Cartoon Comedy Brought to Life

Have you ever felt lost in life? Aimless? Or lost the one thing in life that comforts you? If so, then AJ Goes to the Dog Park might be the film for you. Written and directed by Toby Jones (OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes, Regular Show), this Fantastic Fest feature is an absurd and irreverent comedy. The film follows AJ (AJ Thompson) on his quest to get his life back in order after his favorite dog park is converted into a “blog park” by the Mayor.

Homemade Dog Park

Jones’s film is shot in his hometown of Fargo, North Dakota and features his childhood friend, AJ Thompson, in the lead role. The feature is also made up entirely of other local actors. All of these actors know exactly the kind of movie they are in, and the performances all add to the off-kilter and indie charm of AJ Goes to the Dog Park. For instance, Jacob Hart as Captain Seastab is just chewing on the scenery. It’s a big performance and a highlight of the film that makes for big laughs. On the other hand, AJ is relatively subdued. Although, it works well; he’s a relatively normal guy in a world that’s strange. Even then, AJ is still very fitting into the world.

Another aspect of the film that truly makes the film is the homemade feel. It’s not as if it’s shot terribly; the film looks good. It just has a very simple feel. It’s clearly not produced with any major studio backing or funding and that allows the movie to be itself. This leads to lots of little creative solutions. Instead of aerial shots from a drone or helicopter, miniatures are employed. And there are a few times when animation sequences are used instead of live-action for character backstory, presumably to save on costs. These are all fine feats and are the kind of elements more movies should be integrating.

A Cartoon Brought to Life

Furthermore, a good chunk of this charm comes from Jones’ cartoonist sensibilities. All the visual gags feel straight out of a cartoon, e.g., when AJ’s dogs get blown away in a strong gust. It’s refreshing to see a movie not take itself too seriously and just lean into the absurdity. There’s even an original song from Rebecca Sugar of Steven Universe and Adventure Time fame. With that said, there are a few times when the cartoonishness is a bit too much. These meta moments where it’s acknowledged that it’s the second act, or something isn’t strong enough to fill out a full movie, do a disservice to the film. They show a lack of confidence in a movie that takes some wild swings.

Outside of that, though, all the visual jokes land. The fun wordplay always gets a laugh. Overall, the absurdity of it all makes for a fun time and an easy lighthearted watch.

Losing the Plot

The last twenty-five minutes of the Fantastic Fest film do feel a bit divorced from the rest of the movie. Still, there are plenty of gags and creativity on display, and yet, from a narrative standpoint, it feels almost like a different film. In particular, the very final sequence is entirely out of left field. It’s super enjoyable, especially if you’re a fan of things like Power Rangers, but it’s an odd note to end the movie on. As absurd as it is, and as much it loses itself, AJ Goes to the Dog Park has a really great message about not tunnel visioning on one thing in your life and in the process neglecting the ones you love. Ultimately, those last twenty-five minutes of the movie are crucial to that message, even if it’s not executed in the best manner.

Final Thoughts on AJ Goes to the Dog Park

AJ Goes to the Dog Park is practically a live-action cartoon that occasionally leans too much into that and loses itself by the end. Even then, it’s a fun watch and worth your time if you want to just laugh and forget about your worries for an hour or so.

Score: 3/5

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