Skip to content
Wherever I Look Logo

Wherever I Look

  • HomeExpand
    • About Wherever I LookExpand
      • Our Writers
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Cookie & Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • HTML Sitemap
  • TV Shows
  • Movies
  • Character Guide
  • Live Performances
  • Videos
Wherever I Look Logo
Wherever I Look

Home - Mixed (Divisive) - A Dog’s Purpose – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

A Dog’s Purpose – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) As someone who never had a dog, much less a pet which was invited into my home, I didn’t feel like I was missing out on much. I didn’t have this needy thing which required me to feed it, walk it, and clean it for its entire life. However, after watching…

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted onJanuary 26, 2017 8:54 PMJuly 22, 2018 5:45 PM Hours Updated onJuly 22, 2018 5:45 PM

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.


Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.


  • Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
    • Noted Actor(s)
  • Characters & Storyline
  • On The Fence
    • While All Stories Weren't Equal, They Made You Feel Something
  • Overall: Mixed (Home Viewing)

Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

As someone who never had a dog, much less a pet which was invited into my home, I didn’t feel like I was missing out on much. I didn’t have this needy thing which required me to feed it, walk it, and clean it for its entire life. However, after watching A Dog’s Purpose, you may feel tempted as hell to own a pet.

Noted Actor(s)

Bailey/ Buddy/ Tino / Ellie Voice (Josh Gad) | Ethan (Dennis Quaid/ K.J. Apa/ Bruce Gheisar) | Carlos (John Ortiz) | Maya (Kirby Howell-Baptiste)

Characters & Storyline

Through 5 different lives, a dog named Bailey learns the meaning of life. Something which seems simple, at first, like bacon and having fun, but then it evolves as each of his owners, be it Ethan, Maya, or Carlos, he realizes they need him. That they care and love him, and it is not always the same way. However, it can be felt and smelled.

On The Fence

While All Stories Weren’t Equal, They Made You Feel Something

As seen in the trailer, Ethan is the main focus. With that, he is really the only one we get to know well since we see him go from a child to a young adult, then revisit him as an old man. Thus leaving him a fully developed character. With Carlos and Maya though, what is honed in on is loneliness and how a pet like Bailey doesn’t necessarily fill that void but eases the sorrow of lacking human companionship. Leading to the teary-eyed moments not just being when one of Bailey’s lives end but also watching these people who Bailey doesn’t always make the life better of but does remind you, and them, what it is like to feel for another being and have those feelings requited.

Overall: Mixed (Home Viewing)

As much as I loved the dog, and this made me cry as much as I expected since seeing the trailer dozens of times, I gotta admit the humans featured don’t have the best stories or acting. They are a mix between being family friendly yet Lifetime movie sappy. However, it works. In a way, I felt like how I count how many times I laugh in a movie, I should have counted how much I cried. Mind you, you won’t be sniffling and bawling your eyes out, but you will get a little Denzel in Glory tear going a few times. Showing that despite the unfortunate incident involving the German Sheppard that has become viral, you can’t replace the real thing with CGI and have the same impact.


Follow/Subscribe To Our External Pages

  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Amazon
  • Google
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X

Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)

Listed Under Categories: Mixed (Divisive), Movies

Related Tags: Bruce Gheisar, Dennis Quaid, John Ortiz, Josh Gad, K.J. Apa, Kirby Howell-Baptiste

Amari Allah

Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been writing reviews since 2010, with a focus on dramas and comedies.

Facebook Instagram YouTube

Post navigation

Previous Previous
Star: Season 1/ Episode 5 "New Voices" – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
NextContinue
Kuzu no Honkai (Scum’s Wish): Season 1/ Episode 3 “Show Me Love (Not a Dream)” – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

Site Pages

  • Home
  • About Wherever I Look
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie & Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer & Disclosure Policy
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • HTML Sitemap
  • Our Writers
The Wherever I Look logo featuring a film reel, a video game controller, old school TV set, a stage, and more done by artist Dean Nelson.

The overall goal of Wherever I Look is to fill in that space between the average fan and critic and advise you on what’s worth experiencing.

Category Pages

  • Articles
  • Character Guide
  • Collected Quotes
  • Live Peformances
  • Movies
  • Our Latest Reviews
  • TV Series
  • Video Page
Scroll to top

Wherever I Look logo

Welcome to Wherever I Look, your go-to destination for insightful and personable reviews of the latest TV episodes, movies, and live performances. Also, dive into our character guides and discover what’s truly worth your time.

  • Home
    • About Wherever I Look
      • Our Writers
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Cookie & Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • HTML Sitemap
  • TV Shows
  • Movies
  • Character Guide
  • Live Performances
  • Videos
Search