This abstract art-house film is about a man, Dolph Springer (Jack Plotnik), who wakes up one morning to find his beloved dog Paul missing.  He has a nonsensical conversation with his neighbor across the street, who clearly has no understanding of what it means to lose a dog.  The neighbor shows no empathy, and furthermore, denies that he jogs every morning (when he might have seen Paul), even though Dolph has watched him at it time and again.
            The film is about numerous encounters Dolph has in the coming days that make no sense, presumably as a way of indicating how disorienting it is to experience the loss of a pet.  He finds a flyer for pizza delivery on his door, and calls the number—not to order a pizza, but just to talk with the clerk as a way of distracting himself.  The clerk is uncharacteristically sympathetic and sends a complimentary pizza to him.  He is disgusted and throws it in the trash; however, unbeknownst to him is a note inside from the clerk.  When his gardener, who was standing there when the pizza was delivered, sees him throw it away, he retrieves it and reads the note inside, and responds to it as if he were Dolph.  Significant things happen as a result.
           I go through these steps to give an idea of how the story progresses, with seemingly coincidental encounters and mysterious information given.  Gradually, we become aware of an operation behind the scenes, that Dolph’s dog was kidnapped by an organization, Abuse Prevention for Pets, to remind pet owners of how they begin to take for granted important things in their lives, and sometimes only appreciate them after they are gone.  Dolph is told that he will get his dog back; however, a most unfortunate incident occurred, and “Master Chang” (William Fitchner) cannot guarantee results.  He gives Dolph a book he has written, “My Life My Dog My Strength”, which will teach him how to telecommunicate with Paul in his absence.
           The movie continues in the surreal, with an office in which rain is pouring down continuously while workers go about their business, the death and reappearance of Paul’s gardener (Eric Judor), a detective hired by Master Chang collecting strange evidence from Dolph’s home, phone calls from Paul’s neighbor who had vowed to leave and never return, vehicles being painted while the owners are not around, and so on. 
           How much you would enjoy Wrong will be dependent on your capacity to tolerate the surreal and see the humor and truth underlying it.  The director, Quentin Duplieux (Rubber), is impressive in being the director, writer, cinematographer, and editor of the film.

Grade:  C+           

This whimsical tale about aliens from another planet occupying earth and the humans on it is not new, but it is well executed by Andrew Niccol, writer and director, based on Stephanie Meyer’s novel, The Host.   Lead character Melanie (Saoirse Ronan) is a strong young woman who would rather die than give away the ones she loves.  And her strong will keeps her alive enough to have a soul implant, that of ‘Wanderer’, later shortened to ‘Wanda’.  What follows is a sometimes humorous exchange between Melanie and Wanda in the same body, because, unlike most, Melanie is too strong to be erased from the new being.  She is given to a Seeker (Diane Kruger) to keep her on the right path, and this woman follows her every move.
            Melanie and Wanda argue about running away to find Melanie’s brother Jamie (Chandler Canterbury) and boyfriend Jared (Max Irons).  Their dispute ends up in a car accident, whereupon Melanie forces Wanda to strike out across the desert on foot in hopes of locating them.  They do encounter a small band of resistors to the takeover, one of whom is Uncle Jeb (William Hurt).  Some are hostile toward her because, although she looks the same as always, she has the telltale eyes of those who have been treated with soul insertion, so is a liability.  Fortunately, Uncle Jeb still sees her as family, and as head of the clan, he can insist that she stay with them.  Jeb has built an elaborate cave that is hidden from the outside, but large enough to grow fields of wheat inside.
            Conflicts among clan members and between them and the Seekers chasing them keep the excitement going, fueled further by Wanda being attracted to Ian (Jake Abel), while Melanie is still in love with Jared.  In the end, a difficult choice has to be made, and the issue of Melanie/Wanda is resolved.
            Although this is primarily an entertainment film, it does present a philosophical struggle.  The aliens are peaceful and eschew violence (excluding occupying another planet, of course), at least within their own ranks.   They tend to be nice, polite, and follow orders. The film seems to be saying that in order to have that kind of society, people must give up much of their individual identities and submit to external controls.  Having more freedom allows for more conflict—as in Jeb’s clan.  (Although it’s not a democracy, says Jeb to those who think it is; he tells them it’s a benevolent dictatorship).  In the end, Wanda demonstrates that she has learned something from the experience by coming up with a plan that will promote peace.                                                            Grade:  C+