Isle of Dogs (2017)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Isle of Dogs (2017) – W. Anderson

Director Wes Anderson’s latest film is a stop-motion animated curiosity taking place in a miniature version of future Japan (capital city, Megasaki).  Taking inspiration from the Rankin-Bass Christmas specials (e.g. Rudolph), this is a fun (but grown-up) adventure, telling how a dog-hating mayor evicts all canines to “Trash Island” where they are left to die, suffering from dog-flu and snout-fever and all manner of other ailments.  It is Anderson’s renowned attention to whimsical detail that sees his characters perpetually sneezing throughout the film – but of course, that’s just one small example.  Although the dogs speak in English, most of the other characters speak in Japanese, only occasionally translated (by a variety of interpreters or electronic translating machines).  The human hero of the tale, a 12-year-old boy named Atari (voiced by Koyu Rankin), flies a small junior aircraft to Trash Island to find his former pet bodyguard, Spots (voiced by Liev Schreiber).  He is assisted by four former pet dogs (voiced by Edward Norton, Bob Balaban, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Murray) and a stray (voiced by Bryan Cranston).  They have quite the adventure.  A teenaged human exchange student (voiced by Greta Gerwig) also helps by fighting the corrupt government and exposing an evil conspiracy.  Along the way, Anderson enjoys spoofing and/or paying homage to Japanese culture.  There is probably too much to look at or to take in for just one sitting. The music is less song based than in other Anderson features – for example, some of the music is apparently drawn from Seven Samurai (1954) -- but there is also the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band’s “I Won’t Hurt You” (which certainly fits with what we know of Anderson’s musical taste).  Harvey Keitel, Scarlett Johansson, Yoko Ono, and F. Murray Abraham also lend their vocal talents, along with an array of Japanese actors.  As with Anderson’s other output, you really need to be on his wavelength to appreciate this – and I was (and have been).  So, if you have liked his other films, you won’t be disappointed with this one.  I found it silly but highly enjoyable.