The Dog Problem

Giovanni Ribisi plays a sadsack named Solo (So-low?), who buys a pet at the suggestion of his uptight therapist (Don Cheadle). Scott Caan, writer and director, plays Solo's testosterone-charged friend and photographer, Casper. Considering himself a failure after publishing a schlocky novel, Solo is broke, despondent, in debt to a thug and too poor for more therapy when he meets up with Lola (Lynn Collins), a stripper with a lot more going for her than he has. Ribisi manages to retain our sympathies with bleak humour. The dog just has to show up.