My dog Skip (Frankie Muniz)

(Amazon UK link)

Just over three years ago, I came across the DVD of ‘My dog Skip’ - and probably some others - in a thrift store, and bought it inexpensively. It looked like a pleasant family film, rated U, but for some reason we didn’t get around to watching it until last night. 

I was slightly concerned that it might be a ‘weepy’, but was relieved that it really wasn’t. The film was made in 2000 but set in the 1940s in Mississippi. It's based on a true story which was written in a book of the same name by Willie Morris. 

There’s an introductory voiceover from an adult, talking about looking back to his childhood. And then we meet young Willie, who is brilliantly played by Frankie Muniz. Willis is only supposed to be eight at the start of the film, and the actor must have been thirteen or fourteen, but he’s totally believable both then, and as he starts to grow up. 

Willie is an only child in an era when most families had several children. His mother (Diane Lane) loves and cares for him overtly, but his father (Kevin Bacon) is more aloof. He was injured in the previous war, and lost a leg; he’s never entirely recovered. But although he’s quite strict, he does care deeply for his son. 

Willie’s parents have a disagreement about whether he is old enough to have a dog, but in the end his mother wins, and the puppy Skip becomes part of the family. Skip is an intelligent, loyal dog and there’s some low-key humour as he goes everywhere with Willie, sometimes copying his actions or posture. 

It could have been rather dull, although there are some exciting (and very tense, occasionally disturbing) scenes which I’d have thought would make the rating at least PG rather than U. But we were totally engrossed. That’s partly due to the wonderful relationship between Willie and his dog, but there are also several minor characters who add to the story, and to Willie’s gradual growing up. There are some scenes set in the school where Willie is not popular, and is the target of some bullies. 

There’s a side story involving Willie’s neighbour Dink (Luke Wilson) who is a well-known sportsman at the start of the film, but then he goes off to war… and, like Willie’s father, is never the same afterwards. He and Willie are good friends at first; he’s perhaps Willie’s only real friend. But, partly through Skip, Willie eventually becomes friends with other people in his class at school, and also with one of the prettiest girls.

It’s essentially a gentle, coming-of-age film, ending as Willie goes off to university abroad, with another voiceover (supposedly by the adult Willie) to summarise what happens, to balance the opening section. And it’s all beautifully done; poignant at the end, inevitably, but without stretching the emotions too far. 

I don’t know that I would class this as a children’s film, despite the rating and the age of the main protagonist. The couple of very unpleasant scenes, albeit brief with the worst parts unseen, could disturb a sensitive or animal-loving child. But as a film for adults to watch with older children, I would recommend it highly. 

There’s some low-key social history as it’s authentically set in the 1940s. In addition, there’s nothing untoward, other than the implied violence and some very mild bad language that would make it unsuitable for children. 

Totally engrossing, and brilliantly made.  Apparently there were six different dogs who played Skip - something I learned after reading about the film online. 

There are some commentary extras, which we didn’t watch, and some deleted scenes which we did like watching, particularly one which the director said he was sad to remove.

 Review copyright 2026 Sue's DVD Reviews