43
Metascore
16 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 63Chicago TribuneKatie WalshChicago TribuneKatie WalshThe whole schtick of these movies is the treat-motivated, not-quite-getting-it doggie voice-over, performed by Josh Gad, and it lightens the film. But going dark and emotional makes the film work better than the prior two.
- 60The Hollywood ReporterLeslie FelperinThe Hollywood ReporterLeslie FelperinDon't tell anyone I said this, but the result is not only pleasingly emotionally purgative, but also has some elements worthy of genuine admiration, despite the fact that the third word in the title is one that should now be entirely banished from the English language for its precious, psychobabble connotations.
- 50Screen DailyFionnuala HalliganScreen DailyFionnuala HalliganA Dog’s Journey is certainly manipulative - humans aren’t safe here either, with a significant cancer side-plot. At times, it even seems obsessed by death. Yet there’s something oddly cathartic about sobbing your way through this film, with its mash-up of Buddhism and All-American values.
- The end result is like watching a season finale of "This Is Us" with a commentary track by Elmo. The dogs sure are cute, though.
- 50The A.V. ClubKatie RifeThe A.V. ClubKatie RifeDirector Gail Mancuso, a TV comedy veteran, gets the desired effect — as manipulative as it may be — out of both the funny scenes and the sad ones, leading up to a finale that can only be described as weapons-grade tearjerker material.
- 50San Francisco ChronicleWalter AddiegoSan Francisco ChronicleWalter AddiegoA big, juicy bone for canine-focused humans, but much less of a treat for others.
- 40The GuardianMike McCahillThe GuardianMike McCahillBy their very nature, dog lovers may be more forgiving and enthusiastic, but much of it is reaction shots of trained mutts, right through to the closing-credit snapshots of the crew’s Forever Friends, this movie is almost literally all puppy eyes.
- 10The New York TimesGlenn KennyThe New York TimesGlenn KennyI suppose it’s a genuine achievement that a movie packed with as much delightful canine (and agreeable human) talent as this one should be so insufferable.