Year Of The Dog

Screenwriter Mike White has written several high-profile movies since he first won acclaim for CHUCK & BUCK, Miguel Arteta's dark comedy of discomfort in which White also starred. Few (THE GOOD GIRL, SCHOOL OF ROCK, NACHO LIBRE) lived up to White's initial promise, but the wait for a worthy follow-up ends with this poker-faced black comedy about a woman whose life unravels after the death of her beloved pet. Like CHUCK & BUCK, it explores the funny/sad life of a character whose obsessions push her well beyond the limits of acceptable behavior.

To all appearances, there's nothing particularly wrong with Peggy Spade's (Molly Shannon) life: She has a tidy ho...