Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 7 august 2019

Dog’s POV can’t carry ‘Art of Racing in the Rain’

By LINDSEY BAHR Girls”), pair him with an irre- sis of “Toy Story 4’s” Forky,
Associated Press sistible dog and show these he even go so far to say he
The film adaptation of two photogenic crea- hates who he is.
“The Art of Racing in the tures experience life and Enzo has both a child-
Rain” seems to have been all its greeting card-ready like innocence and a
designed by algorithm moments together? This, strange worldliness, attrib-
to maximize appeal for a friends, is the definition of a uted mostly to the hours he
certain demographic of trap. spends watching television
women aged around 30 In other words, you already with Denny, and eventually
and up. Let’s take the lov- know if this movie is for you. Eve (Seyfried), who is sud-
able dad from “This is Us” For those on the fence, it’s denly competition for Den-
(Milo Ventimiglia, who hap- not as sickly saccharine as ny’s affections. In the book,
pens to have some lasting you might expect (or fear). his soulfulness has a more
goodwill from his introspec- Director Simon Curtis, writ- definite source. He believes
tive teen days on “Gilmore ers Mark Bomback and in a Mongolian legend that
This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows Amanda dogs who are ready will be
Seyfried in a scene from “The Art of Racing in the Rain.” reincarnated as humans,
Associated Press thus he spends his days try-
author Garth Stein and the his dog Enzo for the screen ing to learn as much about
appealing cast including (and tissue sales). It’s told the human condition as
Amanda Seyfried and Kev- from the dog’s point of possible. This idea, seem-
in Costner (who voices the view, although thankfully ingly central to the book,
dog) have some restraint there’s no uncanny, mouth- is introduced curiously late
and style. They know not to moving CGI happening in the film however. Maybe
pack it on too thick. But no here. Although there is a it was decided that the
matter how you dress it up questionable fever dream Mongolian spirituality ele-
and no matter how many of a scene involving a ment might be alienating
good songs you play, it’s stuffed zebra come to life. to a dog-obsessed demo-
still an ice cream sundae For the most part, though, graphic who already be-
of emotion, cliches and Big Enzo is just a dog with an lieves their pup has a soul
Moments with a dog on interior monologue. on par with theirs?
top. Through that inner voice, In any event, Enzo bears
And for anyone expecting we get to know that he feels witness to it all as the ac-
a race car movie? Let’s just he’s more human than dog tors go about their business
say “Ford v Ferrari” is com- and is deeply frustrated by in the background, helping
ing out later this year. the anatomical limitations Denny through his ups and
Stein helped adapt his best- (flat tongue, he says) that disproportionate downs
selling 2008 novel about a prevent him from speaking and telling the audience
wannabe race car driver, English. At one point, as if what’s happening and
Denny (Ventimiglia) and echo-ing the existential cri- what it means..q

‘Finch’ from Penny & Sparrow is a gem

“Finch,” an effort thick with gorgeous tales
of personal transformation.
Band members Andy Baxter and Kyle
Jahnke were both raised in a conservative
climate and sought to break free from the
“white Evangelical Christian male” per-
spective that shaped their early surround-
ings, the band explains in liner notes.
Sonically, there is a smooth and soaring
feel to most of the tracks, yet each has its
own distinct energy. “Recuerda” is love
song heavy on crooning, while “Don’t
Wanna Be Without Ya” gives way to a gal-
loping pace as the concept of reincarnat-
ed lovers is explored. “Long Gone” is sexy
and sultry and highlights the fact that Bax-
ter can absolutely sing a slow jam.
This cover image released by I Love You Ultimately, rich and breathy vocals with
Records shows “Finch,” a release by Penny a slight choral effect carry the day here.
and Sparrow. There’s a dependable luster to Penny &
Associated Press Sparrow’s songs. Songs begin dour, but
By RON HARRIS eventually find their footing and reveal
Associated Press hope amid bass lines and light guitar.
Penny & Sparrow, “Finch” (I Love You) Think of this as Americana with a designer
Texas-raised duo Penny & Sparrow had to shirt. The traditional elements are there,
do some heavy touring to truly search their but they’re layered with a modern sheen
souls. They explore the resulting range of that sets the songs apart from a tired
emotions and deliver it on their sixth album approach.q