Written and directed by Wes Anderson, and boasting a cast which includes Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum and Frances McDormand, Isle of Dogs is a stop-motion animated movie featuring, yep, you guessed it, dogs! Set in Japan (in a dystopian future), the story focuses on a little boy searching for his lost dog on an island filled with nothing but canines.

Isle of Dogs was released in 2018… but have you watched it yet?

In this post, I am taking a look at six review snippets about Isle of Dogs. These reviews were originally published by critics during the film’s theatrical run, and should help you decide if this film is for you!

Advertisements

__

Isle of Dogs movie review round-up

Here is what the critics said about Isle of Dogs when the film was in cinemas back in 2018:

  • Jonathan Romney of The Guardian, called Isle of Dogs “scintillating stop-motion” and awarded the movie four stars (out of five). He said: “As with much of the director’s work, you shouldn’t expect a huge emotional payoff, and the one-liners are often as dry as Bonio. But this hugely enjoyable package shows an indefatigably fertile imagination letting rip in inimitable style – and packing an eco-themed, antibigotry message as well. You can rest assured, Anderson ain’t selling us no pup.”
  • Nick De Semlyen of Empire also awarded Isle of Dogs four stars (out of five), calling it a “fun and fresh-feeling experience.” He said: “By far an odder proposition than Fantastic Mr. Fox, it’s not exactly for kids, not exactly for adults, but surely pretty much everyone will find something to love. Unless you’re a cat — cats are going to hate it.”
Advertisements
  • Geoffrey Macnab of the Independent also served up a four star review, commenting: “Wes Anderson’s latest is quite the treat.” He said: “Anderson is clearly a dog lover himself and his film is bound to appeal to anyone who shares his passion.”
  • The four star reviews continued with Andrew Collins of Radio Times calling Isle of Dogs “a stop-motion delight”. He said: “It feels wholly, idiosyncratically unique, while paying affectionate homage to sources ranging from film-maker Akira Kurosawa and ukiyo-e woodblock print artist Hokusai to the children’s animations produced by Rankin/Bass (and made by Japanese artists) which will be familiar to American TV viewers in the 1960s and 70s, when Anderson was a boy.”
Image: ©Fox Searchlight Pictures
  • Julian Roman of MovieWeb was also a fan of Isle of Dogs, calling it “a must see for anyone that appreciates good filmmaking and originality.”
  • And finally, Guy Lodge of Variety, said: “Wes Anderson returns happily to animation with a Japanophilic canine adventure that is richly imagined, drily witty and, finally, barking mad.”

So, there you have it, according to the critics of 2018, Isle of Dogs is most certainly a film to watch. Maybe it is time to check out this highly-regarded movie.

Advertisements

__

Should you want to check Isle of Dogs out for yourself… and I know you are itching to do this… then you might like to know the film is now widely available on Blu-ray.

The Isle of Dogs Blu-ray is available from all good retailers, including Amazon UK.

__

I hope this information on Isle of Dogs has proved useful. Should you wish to read more posts, please check out one of the recommended reads below.

Read more:

Disclaimer: I earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Advertisements