Movie Review: Isle of Dogs

4 stars out of 5

Wes Anderson generally creates worlds just a smidgen beyond reality. In Isle of Dogs, he throws the stick a little farther out there, but still weaves in many recognizable emotions. Because, wackiness aside, this is ultimately a story of a boy and his dog.

But oh that wonderful wackiness. Just based on graphic design, this movie is a triumph (the insult comic dog?). It’s so sharp, so clever, so consistent. And the puppet design and movements are absolutely delightful. Would be really difficult to sit through this film without a smile on one’s face.

It’s Japan, dogs have suddenly developed “dog flu” and “snout fever” — they keep sneezing, adorable! — so have all been banished to Trash Island. But 12-yr-old Atari steals a plane and sets off in search of his loyal mutt Spots. He’s aided in his journey (ah, it’s a quest story as well!) by a ragtag crew of sweet doggies.

As you’d expect from an Anderson flick, the voice talent is phenomenal, with many of his regulars. Atari’s dog gang includes a kind Edward Norton, Bill Murray, gossipy Jeff Goldblum, and gruff Bryan Cranston (eventually charmed by Scarlett Johansson). We also get Greta Gerwig, F. Murray Abraham, Liev Schreiber, Harvey Keitel, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, and Yoko Ono as scientist Yoko-ono.

There’s a current-events layer here as well, but this sort of filmmaking has such a long turnaround, so is it coincidence or prescience? Mayor Kobayashi’s deportation lust and science-denying reads like a clear mockery of Trump. Later, teens from the school newspaper rise up against the government, and you can’t help but be reminded of those heroic Parkland kids.

The ending gets away from Anderson a little bit — we lose track of our canine crew as the story rushes to tie up various loose ends. But there’s so much to recommend here: laughs, weirdness, heart, and dogs, dogs, dogs!