Matthew Modine was one of my favourite young actors back in the 1980s ('Birdy', 'Full Metal Jacket'), so I was interested to watch this, his feature length writing/directing debut. Sadly it doesn't live up to expectations.
Modine plays Johnny a recently released ex-con who must struggle starting a new, crime free life, encouraged by his parole officer, and ex best friend Gilmore (the wonderful David Keith - 'Brubaker', 'The Two Jakes'). Johnny gets a job at a garage on the outskirts of town run by McGurdy (legendary character actor Bruce Dern - 'The Trip', 'Bloody Mama', 'Silent Running'), but soon finds himself involved with his petty crim loser brother Jamie (Kevin J. O'Connor, 'Deep Rising', in one of his usual whiny roles), and Jamie's irritating girlfriend Judy (Lisa Marie, who after this and the abysmal 'Frogs For Snakes' should do the noble thing and STOP ACTING). Johnny must also come to terms with his father's betrayal (a miscast and unconvincing John Hurt).
Before you know it, the Cooper brothers are one the run, hiding out in Mexico and cooking up a plan to rob a bull fight. Anyone who has watched Kubrick's 'The Killing' can see what's going to happen next. That's the problem with 'If...Dog...Rabbit', we've seen it all before in movie after movie. The family loyalty vs common sense, the straight life vs the old ways. But Modine doesn't bring anything new to the table. At the end, it's "yeah, so that's it?". Not the kind of reaction one wants when making a movie I don't think!
Predictable, unoriginal, and dull. Better luck next time Mr. Modine.
Modine plays Johnny a recently released ex-con who must struggle starting a new, crime free life, encouraged by his parole officer, and ex best friend Gilmore (the wonderful David Keith - 'Brubaker', 'The Two Jakes'). Johnny gets a job at a garage on the outskirts of town run by McGurdy (legendary character actor Bruce Dern - 'The Trip', 'Bloody Mama', 'Silent Running'), but soon finds himself involved with his petty crim loser brother Jamie (Kevin J. O'Connor, 'Deep Rising', in one of his usual whiny roles), and Jamie's irritating girlfriend Judy (Lisa Marie, who after this and the abysmal 'Frogs For Snakes' should do the noble thing and STOP ACTING). Johnny must also come to terms with his father's betrayal (a miscast and unconvincing John Hurt).
Before you know it, the Cooper brothers are one the run, hiding out in Mexico and cooking up a plan to rob a bull fight. Anyone who has watched Kubrick's 'The Killing' can see what's going to happen next. That's the problem with 'If...Dog...Rabbit', we've seen it all before in movie after movie. The family loyalty vs common sense, the straight life vs the old ways. But Modine doesn't bring anything new to the table. At the end, it's "yeah, so that's it?". Not the kind of reaction one wants when making a movie I don't think!
Predictable, unoriginal, and dull. Better luck next time Mr. Modine.