June 8, 2000
L.A.'s Haves and
Have-Nots
"The Dogwalker," part of American Cinamatheque's Alternative Screen
Series, takes a stroll through society's classes.
By Kevin Thomas
L.A.'s Haves and
Have-Nots By Kevin Thomas
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| The American Cinematheque's Alternative Screen presents Paul Duran's amusing,
next-to-no-budget "The Dogwalker," tonight at 7:30 at the Egyptian (6712
Hollywood Blvd.). The film stars Will Stewart, a newcomer with humor and
charisma. Stewart plays Jerry, a canny, good-looking guy who lives by his wits but
is currently at wit's end, broke and reduced to living in his beat up car.
Salvation arrives when he comes to the aid of a feisty older woman, Alma (Carol
Gustafson), when she's knocked off her feet by her immense Saint Bernard, a not infrequent
occurence. Alma's daughter Helene (Stepfanie Kramer) maneuvers Jerry into becoming
her mother's companion - and also into a motel room bed, where her bratty teenage daughter
(Nicki Aycox) would also like to have a rendezvous with Jerry. Duran digresses with
a subplot pairing one of Jerry's street pals, drug addicted Mones (Tony Todd) with one of
Alma's pokerbuddies (John Randolph). In it's amiable way, the film, which could
benefit from tightening, makes sharp points about the chasm between society's haves and
have-nots and how both could benefit if it were bridged. Some moments are silly,
others contrived, but on the whole this very L.A. movie, produced by veteran
photographer-journalist Vera Anderson, scores most aggreeably.
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| - Synopsis and Cast |
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