Patrick by Vanessa Davies - Six out of 10

Patrick by Vanessa Davies

Six out of 10

The Economist has an article in one of the recent issues wherein we find that we may have reached the stage where pets control us and not vice versa, for they have developed over time, according to studies, the looks that make them so endearing and their human companions – or butlers as they have it in some places, South Korea for instance – make all the efforts to provide special new food, toys, treats and a whole paraphernalia of items for their friends or is it masters…

Patrick is a rather failed comedy, where we can see various humans surrendering to the charms of the hero, the pug left without a human to care for all his needs and transferred through a testament to an unwilling new master – is this the proper word, for it is being revised today.

Sarah Francis is the protagonist of the motion picture, on the human side, for it is actually the pug called Patrick who dominates and stelas the whole show…that is called after him indeed.

Sarah is more or less evicted from his life by a rather pathetic boyfriend and she seems to be unable to cope with the challenges of her life, when her grandmother dies and leaves her the most treasured inheritance:

Patrick!

The young woman does not want the animal that, as we have expected, would engage in a massive destruction of furniture, pillows, rugs, in short, almost everything within reach in the apartment.

He is alone and therefore somewhat understandable, as the new owner is a teacher and has had to get to school to work, only to find a calamity upon her return… a rather nice neighbor might offer salvation.

They met in the courtyard, with their respective dogs; although they are not allowed to keep pets according to the policy of the place where they rent, just as Sarah is about to…urinate.

She took the new, unwanted pet out for that, but he was not doing anything and she felt the urge.

The human protagonist meets two men, one is a rather good looking, but only on the outside, vet and the other a more decent, respectable man.

While the vet does help with Patrick when this one ingests some chocolate, when they go out for dinner, he reveals his true colors, the dark side that denies help for pets of women he sees.

As for the rest, it is as forgettable as the first part, with déjà vu scenes of escapism, lost and found animal hero, lovely to watch, but to quote The Guardian:

‘Where is the bite?’