"AJ and his misfit crew bring laughs in AJ Goes to The Dog Park." (Justin Cook PR)
One of the films we mentioned prior to last week is Toby Jones' creation, AJ Goes to The Dog Park. Filled with quirky humor and loads of dry wit, the film is a smorgasbord of laughs and gags appropriate for a generation that grew up on Cartoon Network and similar shows. It’s a harmless, silly time that will have you laughing from the start. While there’s a lot to enjoy in *AJ Goes to The Dog Park*, it unfortunately sticks to its own formula, which might have worked better as a series or short film.
There will always be an audience for this type of comedy. We like to call it "IPA comedy," which appeals to a certain demographic. For those into more theatrical comedies, *AJ Goes to The Dog Park* will be right up their alley. It stars AJ Thompson as "AJ," whose favorite dog park has been turned into a "blog park." Determined to win the park back, he sets out with two dogs, and hilarity ensues, resulting in a slew of one-liners that define this style of humor.
AJ Goes to The Dog Park is a treat from the start, using animation and gag effects mixed with a Tim & Eric vibe. The story follows a fun format as AJ encounters a variety of quirky, dynamic characters, and the jokes are non-stop. The key to enjoying the film depends on how much the viewer invests in its relentless humor. However, at some point, the bits begin to feel stale. For us, this was due to the direction of the story, which seemed to stretch a bit too long. There are moments when the film just won’t let go, assuming the audience is already on board. Yet, once you’re drawn into the antics of AJ and the misfits he meets along the way, you’ll find yourself eager to see how it all ends.
AJ Goes to The Dog Park is a lot of fun, but we wanted a little more than what was presented. Once you get the joke, you get it. Still, it’s a darling festival film, so make sure to catch it when it’s available near you.
Rating: 3/5
AJ Goes To The Dog Park
Writer: Toby Jones
Director: Toby Jones
Executive Producers: Owen Dennis, John Jones, Toby Jones, Tucker Lucas, AJ Thompson
Producer: Ben Hanson
Editors: Toby Jones
Cinematographers: Tucker Lucas
Country of Origin: USA
Principal Cast: AJ Thompson, Crystal Cossette Knight, Morgan Davy, Danny Davy, Jason Ehlert, Jacob Hartje, Zachary Lutz, Whitney McClain, Greg Carlson, Ethan Saari
Original Score: Secret Cities
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