A heartwarming Australian tale of a kid and a stray dog becoming best friends and trying their hand at a high-flying dog show to save their farm all while learning important lessons about kindness and family? Sign me up for Runt.
Based on Craig Silvey’s 2022 novel and directed by John Sheedy, Runt is set in the fictional Western Australian town of Upson Downs, where 11-year-old Annie Shearer (Lily LaTorre) and her adopted bestie, a dog called Runt (played by a dog called Squid), live on a sheep farm — which is in financial danger! Together, they enter the Agility Course Championship at the Krumpets Dog Show in London to try and save their home, but the snooty snoots of Krumpets aren’t exactly thrilled with Runt’s lack of identifiable breed (booooo). Yes, they’ll show ’em. And yes, it’s giving Babe.
Suicide Squad‘s Jai Courtney and Wellmania‘s Celeste Barber play Annie’s parents, Bryan and Susie, Deborah Mailman plays Annie’s mentor Bernadette Box, Jack Thompson plays villainous farm-threatener Earl Robert-Barren, and Genevieve Lemon plays Annie’s grandma, Dolly. Plus, Matt Day and Tom Budge play the wicked Fergus Fink and his sidekick Simpkins.
The trailer is a bloody delightful bunch of scenes involving very good dogs tackling obstacle courses, stealing sausages, and giving fist bumps, all set to The Choirboys’ “Run to Paradise.” I could not be more into this film. Apparently I need joy.
Runt hits cinemas Sept. 19.
