*SPOILER ALERT.* Academy nominee Sally Kirkland was well cast with Rascal, the world's ugliest dog, who turns out to be so ugly he's cute, creating his own soft spot with the homeless Sally, a tough, wise-cracking broad who protects herself with bravado. The mood of playful political satire and social commentary moves into a softer focus as Rascal shows up for Valentine's Day, a wry social setting showing the quiet loyalty and devotion of a cast-off stray dog, as he wears down Sally's defenses and she accepts him as her friend and companion. The tragic death of the dog, just as we have settled ourselves into thinking this is something cute and sweet, catapults us starkly back to the real world of homeless people and strays -- their lives are difficult and powerless, and chances for love fleeting. This is a firm and daring choice by the filmmaker, making all the difference between predictable and provocative. While wisecracking homeless broads and funny-ugly dogs may be entertaining, moving beyond this into stark reality makes us think and feel. This is a short film that stays with you long after experiencing it, from the humor and courage of Sally's soliloquies all the way to the hollow finality of the empty alley where Sally used to live, abandoned by her as she has been abandoned by us.
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