Search - Bark on DVD

Lee Tergesen is fabulous!!

amytych | Rockville, MD USA | 06/26/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bark! is the story of a woman named Lucy (Heather Morgan) who is the midst of a mental breakdown and the only way she communicates is through barking. Lee Tergesen (HBO's Oz) plays her frustrated but very patient husband, Peter, who seeks advice about Lucy from everyone, including the family vet, played by Lisa Kudrow) and a psychiatric resident, played by Vincent D'Onofrio.Fans of Oz, who've seen Tergesen shine as Tobias Beecher, will be thrilled to see the not-seen-often-enough actor in almost every scene of this film. He *is* the movie. Everything revolves around him and the problem his wife is encountering. And he plays the part brilliantly. Yes, I'm a little biased because he's my favorite actor, but he really does shine here. Peter has to deal with his wife's breakdown, her lack of communication, her very strange and hostile family, taking over her business and do it all without losing his own mind. Tergesen makes us feel for Peter. We ache for him, even when he betrays his wife.The film itself is weird and has no satisfying conclusion but Lee is amazing to watch and his performance is guaranteed to make you glad you bought this DVD.Hank Azaria has a small part as Peter's best friend."

"My Wife As A Dog"

G P Padillo | Portland, ME United States | 05/09/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Sorry 'bout that pun!

It's difficult watching a group of amazingly talented actors try to make something out of this mess of a script. Unfortunately Heather Morgan, who plays Lucy, wrote the screenplay and didn't do herself any favors.

The premise of a man watching his emotionally delicate wife's mental stability disintegrate to the point of where she recedes into life as a dog holds some promise, but it isn't fully realized here. Secondary characters, particularly Lisa Kudrow as the veterinarian seem lost at sea.

There is something of the indulgent feel of an actor's improvisatory workshop at work here, a sort of "let's assemble a group of independently odd characters and place them into a collective situation." With all of the characters wildly left of center there is little more than Lee Tergeson's slowly unhinging Peter to draw comparisons with normality to on the whack-o-meter. Hank Azaria tries, but isn't given any meat to work with and his fairly large amount of screen time feels wasted. How do you NOT use a talent like Azaria who pretty much livens up anything just by being there. Evidently, this is how.

Heather Morgan actually makes the most of the role she's given herself and she veers from wildly annoying to earning this viewer's sympathy at her handling by the psychiatric/medical professionals.

Vincent D'Onofrio does manage to add another winner to his aresenal of misfits. A brief bit with him playing Vivaldi on a harp is the highlight of the film.

Everyone gives there all and you want to route for them - Tergeson most of all - but an earthbound script keeps the entire thing from ever becoming anything special. Too bad."

Don't judge a book by its cover!!!!!!!

amytych | 12/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was happily surprise when I rented that movie, even though I was reluctant to do so because of the appalling DVD cover. But thanks to my tasteful friends, I was privileged to discover, at last, a fantastic piece of work. Darkness runs along the length of happiness; your mood fluctuates from tears to laughter. The director treats a difficult subject mixing all the contradictory feelings, all the high and lows that makes existence so beautiful and so tough but still worth living.
The actors are breathtaking and embark you on this journey wether you like it or not... A must see."

Don't Underestimate this one!

V. Welle | Washington, USA | 05/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was so relieved to find this excellent movie. The actors are great, the script a little kooky but very sensitive, and this one hit me in the heart. To me, this movie is about Unconditional Love. The husband realizes that he would rather have a happy "crazy" wife than a wife on medication being used as a guinea pig and turned into a zombie. I was moved to tears because I have this kind of love and I am also obsessed with my dogs. I am buying this movie for my husband, my mother and my doctor. I am hoping they will understand and see what I see. GREAT MOVIE...STUPID COVER...EXcellent Acting...A movie that makes you think...and if you do think and see past the extraneous plot directions, you will understand about Unconditional love."