Yes, the character of Joe (Corbin Bernson) is cynical beyond belief. Safe to say, many of us have encountered someone like Joe. They were negative about everything and so draining to be around. It seemed impossible to bring a smile to their face. He's definitely off putting, but this movie has a powerful message and it's worth sticking with to the end. After losing his wife, Alice (Marilu Henner), in a bicycle accident, his mental health starts declining. He spends his days sitting in the living room with the blinds closed, even when it's sunny outside, and he's stopped shaving. When his daughter comes to his house she expresses her immense concern for his psychological well-being, but he doesn't see anything wrong with how he's living. It also doesn't help that he's short-tempered just by nature. He's going down a path of despair, until he encounters a stray dog who won't leave him alone. Over time, the dog becomes part of his life. Throughout the movie, the audience is able to see the dog change Joe's pessimistic outlook. The actors and actresses gave such compelling performances. It's a brilliant movie about forgiveness. Awesome choice for a family movie night.