Review: 'A Dog’s Purpose' speaks to the hearts of anyone who has ever loved a dog

MANILA, Philippines – If you’ve ever been a pet parent or someone who has raised a dog since you were a kid, this movie will surely hit home.

“A Dog’s Purpose” tells the story of a dog named Bailey, who meets his owner, Ethan, and then reincarnates in a few more lifetimes as a different dog in different lives to finally find his purpose. 

Unlike the most famous dog movie “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” (2009) which tells a story of a dog and his undying loyalty to his owner, “A Dog’s Purpose” tells of simple everyday stories and experiences of humans who live with their dog. 

The movie shows their naughty side, how they interpret everyday things through their dog language, their love for food and adventure, their love for their humans and other dogs, including how they are affected with sadness and loss. 

The story is being told in different phases in a dog and their human’s life which makes it all the more relatable to anyone who’s ever had one.

The movie was based on the original best-selling novel “A Dog’s Purpose” by author W. Bruce Cameron which was published in 2010. He wrote the book after her then girlfriend lost her dog. He explains the inspiration: “We were driving up the California coast on the 101 freeway, and I was hurting for her. Out of nowhere, as if I downloaded it off the Internet, this story came into my head about a dog who doesn’t actually die, but is reborn again and again and again, and develops the sense that there might be some purpose why this is happening.”

Incidentally, the movie was also directed by Lasse Hallstrom, the same director who gave us “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” and “My Life as a Dog.” 

The movie answers the question if dogs have souls or if they’re capable of reincarnation. Whether that may be real or not, the movie tells us that every dog happens for a reason. 

Either you find them, or they find us. Either way, we know our lives are never the same.

Watch the heartwarming trailer here: