Dir. Paul and Sandra Fierlinger, USA, 2009, 82 mins
Characters voiced by Christopher Plummer, Lynn Redgrave, Isabella Rossellini
Review by Carlie Newman
Parents beware! Although this is a delightful animated film, it is by no means suitable for young children. My Dog Tulip is an adaptation of the rightly celebrated, semi-autobiographical novel by J.R. Ackerley about his 16 year relationship with his rescued Alsatian bitch, Tulip. Written in 1956 and set in London in the 1950s, the story is narrated by Christopher Plummer as Ackerley (Joe). He describes his wonderful friendship with his dog, but also his difficulties with Tulip’s eccentric bowel movements and other excretions and – most particularly – his efforts to mate Tulip so that she produces pups. A full description of a dog in heat is given – very adult! At one point Joe brings his sister Nancy (a last role for Lynn Redgrave) to look after Tulip while he is at the office in the morning and she and Joe “tussle for custody” of the dog. Joe’s search for a vet and the various adventures that befall him and his dog are most inventive – or well-depicted, if they happen to be true.
Descriptions, both verbal and in images, deal with the minutiae of life such as staying with a friend who has a sofa in every room, including bathroom and kitchen. Unfortunately Tulip defecates in the guest bedroom and the two leave in disgrace. Some of the episodes between master and dog are really moving as Tulip helps compensate for Joe’s lonely life.
Plummer has a lovely mature and sympathetic voice as Joe Ackerley and Redgrave plays Joe’s sister and also the greengrocer’s wife both well and very differently. The animation is mostly in colour pictures but sometimes black and white and it all helps to give a fairly accurate picture of London in the 50s. Different animation styles are used to show different times and activities, including daydreams, and they all work well together.
My Dog Tulip is very amusing and the style of writing is intelligent and different from the usual animated films. If Brokeback Mountain is a love story which happens to feature two men, then this is most certainly a love story too in terms of being about the mutual devotion of a man and his dog.
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