let me start by say i do not recall laugh once during this comedy . from the opening scene and our protagonist solo ( giovanni ribisi ) show himself to be a self absorb and feeble and and neurotic loser completely unable to cope with the small responsibility such a balance a checkbook and keep his word and or form a coherent thought . i guess be suppose to be draw to his fragile vulnerability and cheer him on through the process of claw his way out of a deep depression . i guess be suppose to sympathize a he stumble through a series of misadventure seemingly trigger by his purchase of a dog and but in reality bring on by his own contemptible nature . i do not get the slight hint at any point that solo ever possess any redeeming character and which become disturbingly apparent when he fail to fee his dog for a few day . no spark of humanity or glimmer of conscience give me hope that he would ever realize his life be so utterly miserable because he a self absorb and self pity lowlife . i do not develop any connection with this character . he do not seem to care and and so neither do i. i actually want him to get his kneecap bust at one point . the dog be not a character in the film . it be simply a prop to be use and neglect and scorn and abuse and covet and dispose of on a whim . so be warn . even though dog be in the title and this film be not a romantic comedy for dog lover . scott caan role be amuse and believable a the oversexed best friend or cad . don cheadle be sincere and magnetic i always want to see more of him on screen . mena suvari be delightfully repellent . lynn collins role of a stripper with a heart be well acted and but the character be simultaneously absurd and clichéd and not to mention there be zero chemistry between her and ribisi . romantic . hardly . comedy . if you say so .