Film Review: ‘Patrick’

We’ve all had to accept unwanted gifts from well-meaning loved ones. To avoid hurting feelings and seeming ungrateful, we accept. That’s exactly what happens to Sarah Francis (Beattie Edmundson) in the feel-good comedy, Patrick.

In this case, Sarah can’t just toss the gift into a junk drawer to collect dust. Sarah is given the responsibility of becoming the new owner of her grandmother’s pampered dog, Patrick after her grandmother passes away. She can’t go against her grandmother’s wishes—even though she’s starting a new job as an English teacher and lives in a no pets flat.  

Though Sarah doesn’t like dogs, she begrudgingly takes Patrick home. That’s when she figures out that her job will not be easy. Patrick is mischievous—grabbing bologna out of the fridge and eating it on her bed, rummaging through the garbage, and causing a raucous at the park. And Sarah hates every moment. At the start, they truly seem to be a “match made in hell,” as Sarah believes. However, she doesn’t know that Patrick will change her life for the better.  

Fresh out of a relationship, Sarah starts meeting men in the park she would not have visited if not for Patrick. And we see that she has a chance to find love. She also must take Patrick to the vet when she should be teaching. This inconvenience leads to a date with Patrick’s vet. Sarah also must leave her apartment after her landlord receives a complaint about a loud dog, but it leads to an unlikely new home that she and Patrick both grow to love.  

We’ve seen movies over the years that focus on animals, specifically dogs, and how they changed their owner’s life. There’s no surprise that Sarah grows fond of Patrick, though he is difficult to care for. The plot is predictable, and it’s easy to feel a sense of deja-vu. The way in which Sarah stumbles upon love interests throughout the film at times feels unbelievable.

However, we all enjoy movies that bring us joy and makes us laugh. We want the protagonist to succeed. Even us cat-lovers, can’t help but start to love Patrick and the growing bond he develops with Sarah. Sarah is also a dynamic character. We see her blossom into a loved high school teacher and start to prove to herself that she can be successful I her own way despite her family’s opinion. Plus, she opens herself up not only to romance but also to an unlikely friendship with a pug.  

This light-hearted film will warm every heart and make you cheer for the underdog. You can catch Patrick in select theaters and video on demand on February 15th and during a one-night event in 100 cities on February 19th.