A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Review: A Dog’s Perfect Christmas, directed by Cathryn Michon and based on the novel by W. Bruce Cameron, follows a festive backdrop but also makes space for conversations about grief, caregiving, marriage and the exhausting business of keeping the household together.
Narrated by a dog, who happens to know a lot about the people around him, the film follows a family that has become increasingly distant. Everyone has something going on; nobody seems to have enough time for the other person, and every person in here has something to deal with while the person holding the household together is slowly running out of energy herself.
It is a feel-good drama-comedy on the surface but has a lot more happening than just Christmas celebration and adorable moments.
A Dog’s Perfect Christmas Review: The Family Needs to Get Back Together
The story introduces us to the Goss family, and there is a little too much going on in the household. We have Sander, a grieving grandfather who has become increasingly grumpy after the death of his wife Barbara. There is Hunter, a stressed father whose work seems to have taken over every hour of his waking life, leaving very little to no room for the family; Ello, a teenage daughter who is constantly irritated and annoyed; and we also have very naughty twins.
Then there is Juliana: the person keeping the entire household functioning; managing everyday responsibilities, she is the one making sure things do not fall apart, but the film reveals that even Juliana is reaching her limits. The Goss family is interesting because it is a very relatable setting to most households, dealing with grief, work, frustrations, parenting and the responsibility of caring for multiple people and an ageing parent, while nobody seems to be realising the problems of the other person.
A Conversation About Caregiving and Unappreciated Housewives
One of the aspects that stands out in A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is how it approaches caregiving. Juliana’s condition brings attention to something that is most often overlooked: looking after people you love can become exhausting. The film understands the distinction between loving the family and having the energy to constantly “serve”.
There is also a particular moment in the film which implicitly brings up how housewives are often taken for granted. In a scene, Juliana tells Hunter that she had to give up her work despite being exceptionally good at it, even being one of the finest employees at her firm, to take care of the family. This small scene is a significant detail because it gives us a better understanding of the sacrifices. The film puts out Juliana’s frustration in that very conversation, which is long enough to put all the points clearly.
Winstead’s Narration Is One of the Interesting Choices
The narration is done by Winstead, the dog, voiced by Thomas Haden Church, which is a rather interesting approach for a family drama. Instead of having the story unveiled layer by layer through the perspective of the family members, the story gives us a way to understand the household through a dog who is close to everyone.
Winstead’s narration gives the film a slightly different perspective, as he is an observer of everything happening while also being involved in the situation, and his position within the family allows us to get a glimpse of relationships and tensions from a third-party perspective as well; the voice performance gives personality to the dog, also giving the film a more adorable and occasional comic relief.
The Dynamics Give Everyone Room to Grow
The dynamic between Sander and Ello is particularly interesting. The grandfather-granddaughter duo do not get along initially. Their interactions are marked by clashes and disagreements, with neither seeming to be interested in making things easier for the other one. However, with the story’s progression, their relationship becomes more affectionate, and the development allows both characters to evolve in their own character arcs.
The film also has Hunter dealing with his professional life and later the conflicts in his personal and professional life, while Juliana’s exhaustion and health add another layer of emotional weight to the story. Her illness becomes serious eventually, making the family realise how much they depend on her, and Hunter realises the sacrifices she has made.
The Subplots Keep the Film Moving
The dramatic stakes are, however, balanced with the lighter subplots, particularly the twins’ constant mischief and Sander’s amusing encounter with the three women, which eventually even leads him to take an interest in grooming himself. The smaller storylines give the film additional movement and prevent it from becoming entirely consumed by the heavier family drama.
The overlapping nature of the subplots helps maintain the overall pace of the film. In fact, without them, the film might feel incomplete. However, the subplots can feel dragged at some points.
The comedy also works as a necessary balance to the emotional moments of the film, giving it a nice weight and depth.
Festive Production and Music
The festive production is another aspect that works well, especially given the title. The Christmas setting becomes an important part of the overall experience of the film. The production adds to the overall warmth and whimsy of the film, while the musical score brings in magic to the narration and the different developments within the story.
The timing of the film’s release also feels appropriate. It is the kind of family drama that fits into the Christmas Watchlist, especially for audiences looking for something that has emotional storytelling with laughter and entertaining moments.
Final Verdict
At the core, A Dog’s Perfect Christmas is about family relationships, dysfunctionality, and the emotional weight people carry. The film explores how people can be so absorbed in their own problems that they fail to recognise what else is happening in the family and the problems of their own family.
The arrival of people like Sean and Claire also adds a significant aspect to the story, showing how certain individuals can enter a family’s life at the right time and become important. Another message that comes through is the importance of not taking relationships or people for granted, which is particularly evident in Juliana’s storyline, considering how much she does for the family.
The film celebrates the love pets have for their families. Through Winstead’s narration, he reminds us that dogs are more observant of their surroundings than people might assume and reiterates that he understands the family, notices things happening around him and becomes an intrinsic part of the story.
If you are looking for a Christmas movie to watch with your family, this one deserves a place in your list. Teenagers and parents, in particular, might find themselves connecting with the different parts of the story, given how the story explores the struggles of different people.
(Ps. Please keep some tissues nearby. The Christmas Season arrives with a fair share of family drama!)
Watch A Dog’s Perfect Christmas on Netflix.
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