Dog Gone Movie Review

Based on a real-life experience, the Dog Gone movie on Netflix stars Rob Lowe and Kimberly Williams-Paisley. When a college student moves home after graduation, his dog Bonker helps bring the family together. And when the dog goes missing on the Appalachian trail, a community of friends, family, and strangers work together to bring him home.

Dog Gone Movie Synopsis

Fielding (Johnny Berchtold) is a college student who loves the college life. But when a relationship ends and he's feeling down, he heads to the local shelter to adopt a dog. An adorable yellow lab, who he later names Bonker, is the pup who changes his life. Bonker is by his side that final year of school and after graduation the two head home to live with the parents.

All of Fielding's friends leave school with jobs lined up. But for Fielding, he can't imagine what he's supposed to do with his life. He loves being outdoors, going on hikes with Bonker, and sleeping under the stars. Being an accountant, or something similar doesn't seem like a good fit for him. But for his parents John (Rob Lowe) and Ginny (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), they want him to go out and find his way in the world. Fielding feels like they are disappointed with him and don't approve of his lifestyle.

Although they originally viewed Bonker as a dog who needed to be tamed, they quickly fell under his spell and loved everything about the dog. They loosened up and realized that things didn't need to be perfect. So when Bonker went missing while out on a hike with Fielding, the family rallies together to find the dog.

Ginny stays home to man the command center. She works the phone to call every newspaper, shelter, and veterinary office across the state. While she works on that side of the search, John and Fielding hit the trail. They go back to the Appalachian Trail and hike for miles a day looking for Bonker.

The Story Behind Dog Gone

The Dog Gone movie is based on the book by Paul Toutonghi, Dog Gone: A Lost Pet’s Extraordinary Journey and the Family Who Brought Him Home, which tells the real-life story of Gonker. The book was first released in 2015 and it has a 4.6 star rating on Amazon. Gonker went missing on October of 1998 and his story went national when Ginny spoke with a reporter about the dog, his medical condition that put him at risk, and the bond that he has with the family.

Dog Gone Movie Review

It's easy to say that dog lovers will love the Dog Gone movie. Any pet lover will appreciate the joy, love, and affection that Bonker brings to Fielding and his parents. Their lives simply wouldn't be the same without him. However, there's more to this story than just a missing dog. And it's those parts of the story that makes it universally appealing to dog lovers and non pet owners alike.

The relationship between Fielding and his Dad is one that many can appreciate. Whether you are a parent who has wondered about the direction your child is heading. Or, a child who thinks that your parents just don't understand. Or, perhaps you have been in both shoes and understand what it's like coming out of college not quite sure what to do next. You have that piece of paper in your hand saying that you are ready for the world, but what exactly does that mean?

I really enjoyed the Dog Gone movie on Netflix. It is a great family movie. A rare movie that is perfect for all ages, especially teenagers. They may not be willing to admit it of course, but I think it's a great movie for the whole family to enjoy together. There are so many valuable lessons in there for all members of the family. I think that parents especially can always use a reminder that figuring out our path in life takes a little bit longer for some of us.

A Recap of the Dog Gone Movie on Netflix

For anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to have a pet in their life, you know the unconditional love that they give. When we feel lost, misunderstand, or overlooked, a pet is there to cuddle up and make things all better. A Dog Gone movie on Netflix lets us celebrate dogs, and all the wonderful things they bring to our lives. It also allows us to celebrate family. For standing by each other, and being there for each other during the tough times. And, recognizing that there are different paths in life and we all need to find which one is right for us.

Watch the Dog Gone movie on Netflix