A TRUE STORY OF FAITH, DEVOTION AND UNDYING LOVE.
College professor Parker Wilson (Richard Gere) finds a runaway Akita puppy and takes him home; over the years, Hachi becomes his most loyal friend. A remake of the 1987 Japanese movie Hachiko Monogatari, which was based on a true story. Released straight to DVD in the U.S., this is actually a well-made, touching film that has to be irresistible to dog lovers. Lasse Hallström doesn’t go overboard with the sentimentality, although Jan A.P. Kaczmarek’s pretty music score is a tad overused. Falling in love with Hachi is easy, which is something Joan Allen’s character reluctantly learns; she’s good in that part.
2010-U.S.-Britain. 93 min. Color. Directed by Lasse Hallström. Music: Jan A.P. Kaczmarek. Cast: Richard Gere (Parker Wilson), Joan Allen (Cate Wilson), Sarah Roemer (Andy Wilson), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Erick Avari, Jason Alexander.
Trivia: Alternative title: Hachiko: A Dog’s Story. Co-produced by Gere.
