Review! Darling Companion

Diane Keaton and Kevin Kline are two actors certainly worthy of praise. They have chemistry and to an outside observer, they would make a perfect on screen couple. Darling Companion gives that a shot, it just doesn’t do it very well. In fact, Darling Companion doesn’t do much of anything well. This movie tries to be a romance, a comedy, and a drama but fails miserably at every one of those. This movie almost reminds me of The Big Year. The premise is Diane Keaton finds a dog by the side of the road and takes it to a vet. Keaton’s daughter falls in love with the vet and they are to be married. During the wedding festivities this dog goes missing and the family unites to track it down. Oh, and they have a psychic helping them.

This movie is clearly geared towards an older audience. Someone who can understand and appreciate the deep emotional bonds that form with those around you, including pets, and the way those relationships are tested from time to time. The biggest issue here is that the film is not emotional enough (not something I say too often). You just don’t really feel it, the way that this movie should make you feel. I’m usually a sucker for these types of movies, but this one had me shed not a tear. The other deep problem with this movie is that it is billed primarily as a comedy. It just isn’t funny. There are a handful of chuckle-worthy moments, but not nearly enough to consider this a comedy, or to keep the audience in stitches. The dialogue feels forced at times, which just shouldn’t happen with the likes of Kevin Kline and Diane Keaton. The whole thing just feels fake, and it isn’t enjoyable. You really have no reason to watch this movie. Unless, an elderly woman insists on watching it with you as she remembers her glory days. Then maybe, otherwise, pass on this.