‘Wiener-Dog’ has compelling dialogue but it’s a brutal story

Published 1:30 am Friday, July 1, 2016

If you love dogs, skip this movie. That seems like a fair way to begin talking about “Wiener-Dog.”

Yes, an adorable dachshund is featured in all the stories in this film. But for writer-director Todd Solondz, whose films include “Life During Wartime” and “Happiness,” life is nasty, brutish, and short (and even worse when it’s long). He’s not going to soften up because a dog is around.

The film isn’t really about the dog. It’s about the owners of the dachshund, which passes from one person to another. The stories are quite separate.

In the first, Solondz looks at a lonely kid (Keaton Nigel Cooke) who loves his new dog, although his cool-hearted parents (Tracy Letts, Julie Delpy) aren’t much help. Solondz is always good with children, and this episode is probably the saddest in the bunch.

In the second vignette, a veterinary nurse (Greta Gerwig) kidnaps the dog. Her name is Dawn Wiener, which is the name of a character (played by a different actress) in Solondz’s 1995 breakthrough film, “Welcome to the Dollhouse.”

Then a tale of a film professor (Danny DeVito) awash in career problems and a PC environment, and finally a story of a blind woman (Ellen Burstyn) whose granddaughter (Zosia Mamet) is asking for money again. She wants to fund projects for her pretentious artist boyfriend, Fantasy (Michael James Shaw).

If you’ve seen other Solondz films, you know what to expect (except maybe that there’s an intermission here, which is very funny). Human cruelty is painfully explored, almost savored.

Solondz writes impeccable dialogue — every word is measured for maximum soul-crushing effect. He makes you squirm, but he really knows how bullies operate.

“Wiener-Dog” made some audience members walk out at film festivals in Sundance and Seattle. I’m pretty sure I know when they walked out, and it has to do with the ultimate fate of the poor dachshund.

So you’ve been warned. Still, for all his grimace-worthy view of humankind, Solondz is an eagle-eyed observer, and I think this is his best movie in years. Without him, the art of the feel-bad movie wouldn’t be the same.

“Wiener-Dog” (3 stars)

Another feel-bad movie from Todd Solondz, who ties together four different stories with a dachshund. Solondz never tires of exposing human cruelty, but he has such an impeccable ear for dialogue that he makes this compelling even as you’re grimacing. Cast includes Greta Gerwig, Danny DeVito, and Ellen Burstyn.

Rating: R, for language, violence

Showing: Seven Gables theater