Like a perfectly-prepared meal where all the ingredients and spices combine to make a memorable meal, the same can be said for this movie: a beautiful, poignant story, terrific acting, great directing, beautiful scenery (Seattle) and a subtle, mesmerizing soundtrack are all expertly combined to create a movie to enjoy now and for years to come. 'The Art of Racing In The Rain' is one one of the best you'll see this year, or for a long time. The ending is, indeed, joyous - just bring some Kleenex. That being said, the story of race car driver, Denny Swift, his dog Enzo (who wants to come back someday as a human, so he too, can race), Denny's wife, Eve and daughter Zoe, is a rollercoaster of emotions, from over-the-top joy, to heartbreaking tragedy and back again. If you DO see the movie first, you may wish to read the book afterwards - Garth Stein is a GREAT, nuanced author who knows how to capture the best of the human (and canine) spirit. If you've read Garth Stein's best-seller of the same name, or your children, the young-adult version, you'll see that the movie adheres to about 95% of the plot and definitely captures the sweet essence of the book, but reading the book beforehand isn't mandatory.

Even better, it's not a sequel, or prequel and has no CG scenery, explosions, or violence, either. My sympathies to the critics who have difficulties seeing this movie for what it truly is. First - don't believe the hackneyed reviews from movie critics that this is a terrible, cliched dog movie.

The art of racing in the rain book