Dir. Toby Jones (2024)
When AJ loses his favorite dog park, he will do literally anything (and everthing) to get it back.
You ever just have one of those days? A day where absolutely nothing seems to go right, and where every single thing happens in the worst way possible? Director Toby Jones, who wrote a bunch of episodes of The Regular Show and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes, lets us in one one of those days for AJ, a man who just enjoys living his regular life and discovers that he will no longer be able to do so when his local dog park suddenly (and I do mean suddenly) closes down to make way for a Blog Park. An absurdist comedy that abounds with wit and hilarity, AJ Goes to the Dog Park is a fantastic (and fantastical) that is laugh out loud funny and an absolute trip.
AJ (AJ Thompson) has lost his local dog park. His friends are moving away. Even his favorite breakfast, toast and butter, is recalled, forcing him to drink a raw egg for breakfast on the advice of the government. He decides to try to become mayor so that he can reclaim the dog park that he loves, attempting to become better than the existing mayor at all of the things that she credits to her success. But will he be able to best the mayor at the final test, or will the dog park be gone forever?
AJ Goes to the Dog Park is utterly ridiculous and filled with sight gags, crazy effects, and... existential dread? Despite the preposterous setup, the film has a lot of legitimately important messaging, all about how we should focus on being happy where we are, taking care of the people we care about, rather than being devoted to some outrageous goal that takes up the time better spent elsewhere. I didn't expect it to be quite as deep as it was, and it's actually a really personal story that becomes a multi-faceted life lesson. Until, of course, the demon lord sends his skeleton army to attack the town of Fargo. But that, of course, is another story.
I don't know exactly how many drugs went into making this movie, but I'm guessing it was a fuckton. It's a living cartoon, goofy, illogical, and ludicrously nonsensical throughout. It reminded me a good bit of Hundreds of Beavers, and I mean that in the best possible way. While it isn't as good as HoB, which is still my favorite film I've seen this year, it's still a hell of a fun ride for fans of absurdist comedy. It's been a while since I've seen a movie that made me laugh out loud as often as this one did, and if that's what you're looking for, you're definitely going to get it with AJ Goes to the Dog Park.
Who this movie is for: Absurdist comedy lovers, Existential horror fans, Mayoral candidates
Bottom line: AJ Goes to the Dog Park is hilarious, out-there, and a lot more emotionally impactful than you think it's going to be. AJ Thompson is great in this role, and director Toby Jones creates a film that you won't soon forget. If you get a chance to watch this one, you definitely should, and it's showing at Fantastic Fest right now. Give it a shot if you're a fan of absurdist humor.
