Following the adventures of a Firehouse Dog, Bill Plympton's Hot Dog creates a hilarious, though somewhat sympathetic character out of man's best friend. Told through the eyes of an innocent bystander, the film creates humor and imagery without a single word of dialogue.
The lack of words allows audience members to focus on the unique animation that encompasses the film. Seen more as sketch drawings, the film presents a style and formula that hasn't been used in years, prompting you to respect Plympton's vision and stylistic approach. He is trying something new, creating his own format and presenting it with near flawless precision.
What the film lacks in story and detail, it more than makes up in the form of creativity and uniqueness. Thus, the film is able to wow you during its short running time, bringing you along for a hilarious and addicting journey that will finally reveal just what the dog is doing on top of that red truck.
About Stephen Davis
I owe this hobby/career to the one and only Stephanie Peterman who, while interning at Fox, told me that I had too many opinions and irrelevant information to keep it all bottled up inside. I survived my first rated R film, Alive, at the ripe age of 8, it took me months to grasp the fact that Julia Roberts actually died at the end of Steel Magnolias, and I might be the only person alive who actually enjoyed Sorority Row…for its comedic value of course. While my friends can drink you under the table, I can outwatch you when it comes iconic, yet horrid 80s films like Adventures in Babysitting and Troop Beverly Hills. I have no shame when it comes to what I like, and if you have a problem with that, then we’ll settle it on the racquetball court. I see too many movies to actually win any film trivia contest, so don’t waste your first pick on me. My friends rent movies from my bookcase shelves, and one day I do plan to start charging. I long to live in LA, where my movie obsession will actually help me fit in, but for now I am content with my home in Austin. I prefer indies to blockbusters, Longhorns to Sooners and Halloween to Friday the 13th. I miss the classics, as well as John Ritter, and I hope to one day sit down and interview the amazing Kate Winslet.
