Texas Art & Film's Dr. Donna Copeland's Film Reviews & Features
 
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      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+           



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