A Dog's Journey
"Some friendships transcend lifetimes."
Overview
"A Dog's Journey" continues the story of the dog Bailey, whose spirit is reincarnated into different dogs over several lifetimes. At the start of the film, Bailey is living happily with his owner Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and his wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger) on their farm. They are helping to raise their baby granddaughter, CJ, after the death of their son. CJ's mother, Gloria (Betty Gilpin), is struggling with grief and parenthood, and in a moment of paranoia, she takes CJ and moves away.
As Bailey is about to pass away from old age, Ethan gives him a new purpose: to find and protect CJ no matter what. Through his subsequent reincarnations as different dogs, including a beagle named Molly and a terrier named Max, Bailey's soul finds its way back to CJ at various stages of her life. He becomes her constant companion, offering comfort and support as she navigates a difficult childhood with a neglectful mother, deals with bad relationships, and pursues her dreams of becoming a musician. Bailey, in his various forms, also plays a key role in reuniting CJ with her childhood best friend, Trent (Henry Lau).
The film follows CJ's journey into adulthood, with Bailey's unwavering presence providing a source of unconditional love and stability in her often-turbulent life. It explores themes of family, love, loss, and the enduring bond between humans and their pets.
Core Meaning
The central message of "A Dog's Journey" revolves around the profound and enduring power of unconditional love and devotion, particularly as embodied by the bond between humans and dogs. The director, Gail Mancuso, emphasized the theme of forgiveness as a key element she wanted to explore in the film. The movie suggests that this selfless love can transcend even death, with Bailey's reincarnations serving as a testament to his unbreakable promise to protect CJ. Ultimately, the film conveys that the purpose of life, for both dogs and humans, is to love and care for one another, and that this love is a guiding force that helps navigate life's greatest challenges.
Thematic DNA
Unconditional Love and Devotion
This is the primary theme of the film, illustrated by Bailey's unwavering commitment to CJ across multiple lifetimes. He is her constant protector and companion, offering love and support even when she faces neglect from her mother and heartbreak in her relationships. The film posits that a dog's love is a pure and powerful force that can provide stability and healing in a person's life.
Family and Forgiveness
"A Dog's Journey" explores the complexities of family relationships, particularly the strained bond between CJ and her mother, Gloria. Gloria's neglect and alcoholism stem from her own grief and insecurities. A significant part of the film's emotional arc is their eventual reconciliation, which highlights the importance of forgiveness in healing family wounds. Director Gail Mancuso specifically wanted to emphasize the theme of forgiveness.
Life, Death, and Reincarnation
The film uses the concept of reincarnation to explore the idea that love and purpose can continue beyond a single lifetime. Bailey's spirit returns in different canine forms, but his core identity and mission remain the same. This recurring cycle of death and rebirth is presented not as something to be feared, but as a journey of the soul to fulfill its purpose. The narrative's take on reincarnation has been described as a mix of Buddhist philosophy and American values.
Overcoming Adversity
CJ faces numerous challenges throughout her life, including a neglectful mother, abusive relationships, and career setbacks. Bailey's presence in her life provides her with the emotional support she needs to persevere and ultimately find happiness and success. The film suggests that with love and support, it is possible to overcome even the most difficult circumstances.
Character Analysis
Bailey (voice)
Josh Gad
Motivation
Bailey's primary motivation is to fulfill his promise to Ethan to protect CJ. This singular purpose drives him through multiple reincarnations, as he seeks to provide CJ with the unconditional love and support she needs.
Character Arc
Bailey's arc is less about personal change and more about the fulfillment of his purpose. Across several lifetimes, he learns and grows in his understanding of how to best protect and support CJ. His journey culminates in him successfully fulfilling his promise to Ethan and finally being reunited with him in the afterlife.
CJ
Kathryn Prescott
Motivation
CJ's motivation evolves throughout the film. Initially, it is simply to survive her difficult upbringing. As she gets older, she is motivated by her desire to become a musician and to find a loving and supportive relationship.
Character Arc
CJ begins as a lonely and neglected child who grows into a young woman struggling with self-doubt and unhealthy relationships. Through the constant love of her dog (Bailey in his various forms) and by reconnecting with her childhood friend Trent, she learns to believe in herself, pursue her passion for music, and heal her relationship with her mother. She ultimately finds love, family, and personal fulfillment.
Gloria
Betty Gilpin
Motivation
Gloria's early motivations are selfish, driven by her own pain and a desire for a life she feels she was denied. Later, her motivation shifts to wanting to repair her relationship with her daughter.
Character Arc
Gloria starts as a neglectful and alcoholic single mother, consumed by grief and her own failed aspirations. Her character is initially portrayed as antagonistic and unsympathetic. Over the course of the film, she hits rock bottom and eventually seeks to make amends with CJ, demonstrating a significant arc of redemption and forgiveness.
Ethan
Dennis Quaid
Motivation
Ethan's motivation is his deep love for his granddaughter, CJ, and his desire to ensure her well-being even after he is gone. He trusts Bailey implicitly to carry out this final and most important task.
Character Arc
Ethan's arc is largely completed in the previous film, "A Dog's Purpose." In this film, he serves as the catalyst for the main plot. As an older, wiser man, his primary role is to set Bailey on his new journey to protect CJ. His eventual death and reunion with Bailey in the afterlife provide a poignant and satisfying conclusion to their story.
Trent
Henry Lau
Motivation
Trent's motivation is his enduring love and friendship for CJ. He consistently supports her and her dreams, and he wants to be with her.
Character Arc
Trent is CJ's loyal childhood friend who remains a supportive presence in her life even when they are apart. He grows from a kind-hearted boy into a successful and caring man. His arc is intertwined with CJ's, as he represents the stable and healthy love that she deserves.
Symbols & Motifs
Bailey's Reincarnations
The different dog breeds Bailey inhabits symbolize the various forms that love and protection can take. Each incarnation brings a unique set of circumstances, yet Bailey's core essence and purpose remain constant, signifying that the soul's devotion is more important than its physical form.
Bailey is reincarnated as a beagle named Molly, an English Mastiff named Big Dog, and a Yorkshire Terrier named Max, among others. In each life, he manages to find his way back to CJ and help her through a different stage of her life.
The Farm
Ethan and Hannah's farm represents a place of unconditional love, stability, and family. It is a safe haven that CJ is taken from as a child and eventually returns to as an adult, symbolizing a return to her roots and the healing of her family. The visual representation of the farm is bucolic and representative of a wholesome, middle-American ideal.
The film begins and ends on the farm. It is where Bailey makes his promise to Ethan to protect CJ, and where CJ ultimately finds happiness and reconciles with her family.
CJ's Music
CJ's passion for music represents her inner voice and her journey toward self-expression and healing. Her initial stage fright and the discouragement she faces from others symbolize the obstacles she must overcome. Her eventual success as a musician signifies her finding her own strength and purpose.
CJ is a budding musician who initially has a severe case of stage fright. Throughout the film, her songwriting is a way for her to process her emotions. She eventually releases her first music album, signifying her personal and artistic growth.
Memorable Quotes
My name is Bailey. I've lived a lot of lives, and I've peed on a lot of stuff.
— Bailey (voice)
Context:
This is part of Bailey's introductory voice-over at the beginning of the film, as he reflects on his many lives while living on the farm with Ethan and Hannah.
Meaning:
This opening line establishes Bailey's humorous and innocent perspective. It immediately endears him to the audience and sets the tone for the film's narration from a dog's point of view.
You can usually tell that a man is good if he has a dog who loves him.
— Hannah
Context:
While this quote is prominent in the book, its essence is conveyed through the film's depiction of the strong bonds between the 'good' characters and their dogs.
Meaning:
This quote encapsulates a central idea of the film: that a person's relationship with a dog is a reflection of their character. It suggests that dogs have a pure instinct for recognizing goodness in people.
I'm coming, CJ! I remember my purpose! CJ is my purpose!
— Bailey (voice)
Context:
Bailey, as the puppy Molly, smells something familiar in a young CJ and has a sudden realization of his promise to Ethan, prompting him to run to her.
Meaning:
This is a pivotal moment where Bailey, in one of his new lives, rediscovers his mission. It underscores the central theme of purpose and the powerful, unbreakable bond that connects him to CJ across lifetimes.
You're a good dog, Molly Max. You're such a good dog.
— CJ
Context:
CJ says this to an aging Max as he is peacefully passing away, with her and Trent by his side. It is a tender and emotional farewell.
Meaning:
This line, spoken to Bailey in his final incarnation as Max, is a simple yet profound expression of love and gratitude. It acknowledges the immense comfort and joy he has brought into her life, bringing his journey to a peaceful and fulfilling conclusion.
Philosophical Questions
What is the nature of a soul's purpose?
The film directly explores this question through Bailey's journey. His initial purpose was tied to Ethan, but it evolves to encompass a new mission: protecting CJ. This suggests that one's purpose is not static but can change and expand through love and commitment to others. The film posits that a life's meaning is found in selfless devotion and the positive impact one has on the lives of those they love.
Can love and connection transcend death?
"A Dog's Journey" answers this with a resounding 'yes.' The central premise of Bailey's reincarnation is that his soul and his love for his humans persist beyond his physical death. His ability to find CJ in each new life, and the eventual reunion with Ethan in the afterlife, strongly supports the idea that the bonds of love are eternal and unbreakable.
How do we find healing and forgiveness in dysfunctional families?
The film explores this through the relationship between CJ and her mother, Gloria. Their journey is one of pain and estrangement, caused by Gloria's grief and alcoholism. The film suggests that healing comes through understanding, personal growth, and the difficult but necessary act of forgiveness. Bailey acts as a catalyst for this healing, providing the unconditional love that helps CJ and, eventually, Gloria to open their hearts to one another.
Alternative Interpretations
While the film is largely presented as a straightforward, heartwarming tale, some critics have offered alternative readings. One interpretation views the film's premise as somewhat morbid, given that it relies on the repeated deaths of a beloved canine character to advance the plot. Roger Ebert's review, for instance, humorously questions if the film is one of the "sweetest canine films out there, or one of the meanest." Another perspective critiques the film's simplistic and morally black-and-white world, where characters are either wholly good or conveniently villainous, lacking nuance. The treatment of CJ's mother, Gloria, has been described as one-dimensional and hostile by some critics, suggesting a lack of empathy for a character struggling with grief and addiction. Furthermore, the film's blend of spiritual concepts can be interpreted as a "sugar-coated, bastardized form of Buddhism for pet lovers," which prioritizes emotional payoff over theological consistency.
Cultural Impact
"A Dog's Journey," like its predecessor, tapped into the widespread cultural adoration for dogs and the powerful human-animal bond. It was released as counter-programming to blockbuster action films like "Avengers: Endgame," offering a more sentimental and family-oriented cinematic experience. The film's narrative, a blend of Christian values and a simplified Buddhist concept of reincarnation, resonated with audiences seeking uplifting and emotionally cathartic stories. While critics were mixed, often calling the film emotionally manipulative and sentimental, they also acknowledged its effectiveness as a tearjerker. The movie reinforces the popular conception of dogs as loyal companions and guardian angels, contributing to the genre of films that explore the lives and perspectives of animals in a deeply anthropomorphized way. It also addresses serious real-world issues such as neglectful parenting, alcoholism, and grief, making them accessible within a family-friendly format.
Audience Reception
Audience reception for "A Dog's Journey" was generally positive, with many viewers finding it to be a heartwarming and emotionally satisfying film. It earned an "A" CinemaScore from audiences, indicating strong approval. Viewers praised the movie's emotional depth, the charming voice performance by Josh Gad, and the touching portrayal of the bond between CJ and Bailey. Many dog lovers, in particular, connected with the film's central themes of loyalty and unconditional love. The main points of criticism from some audience members and critics alike centered on the film's perceived emotional manipulation, with some finding it overly sentimental and formulaic. The multiple dog deaths, while central to the plot, were also a source of sadness for many viewers. Despite this, the overall verdict from its target audience was that it was a successful and touching sequel that provided a fitting conclusion to Bailey's story.
Interesting Facts
- The film is the sequel to the 2017 movie "A Dog's Purpose" and is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by W. Bruce Cameron.
- Gail Mancuso, an Emmy-winning director known for her work on television comedies like "Modern Family," made her feature film directorial debut with "A Dog's Journey."
- To achieve the desired performances from the canine actors, trainers used a variety of techniques, including toys, excitement, and treats, to create a fun and positive environment on set.
- Henry Lau, who plays Trent, is an internationally famous K-pop star.
- The filmmakers, including screenwriter W. Bruce Cameron, have stated that they felt a sense of divine inspiration and calling to create the film.
- Some viewers have noted a continuity error between "A Dog's Purpose" and "A Dog's Journey." In the first film, Ethan's wife Hannah has a daughter and grandson, who are replaced in the sequel by a deceased son, Henry, and his daughter, CJ.
- The source novel by W. Bruce Cameron deals with darker themes than the film, including a suicide attempt by CJ and Gloria's diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease.
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