Dog's Purpose, A (PG)

Adventure, Comedy, Drama

A dog looks to discover his purpose in life over the course of several lifetimes and owners.

More information on this production is available at www.adogspurpose.co.uk.

The critical consensus

The veteran director gives a professional gloss to A Dog's Purpose, but all the skill in the world can't make this dog's dinner palatable.

(*) (*) (*) Eddie Harrison, The List, 01/05/2017

It’s a bizarre endeavour, a rambling tale whose purpose, in spite of its title, is very hard to work out.

(*) (*) (*) Geoffrey Macnab, The Independent, 03/05/2017

Lasse Hallström’s tale of a dog that keeps getting reincarnated is cutesy, creepy and icily manipulative.

(*) (*) (*) Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 04/05/2017

Call it Ground Dog Day. Just don’t call it good.

(*) (*) (*) Alistair Harkness, The Scotsman, 04/05/2017

Innately sweet, due to the high number of fluffy animals, but it has the gloopy emotion and silly plotting of a Nicholas Sparks novel. Nicholas Barks, if you will.

(*) (*) (*) Olly Richards, Empire Online, 04/05/2017

A Dog’s Purpose feels like a Lassie film written by Nicholas Sparks and you will need a boundless love of dogs and a high tolerance of schmaltz to enjoy it.

(*) (*) (*) Allan Hunter, Daily Express, 05/05/2017

Lasse Hallström’s canine tale is steeped in sentimentality, heavy with nostalgia and full of furry charm – but ultimately banal.

(*) (*) (*) Simran Hans, The Observer, 07/05/2017