Starring Pascal Lamothe-Kipnes and Stephen Huszar
***SPOILER ALERT***
A determined entrepreneur, Scarlett (Lamothe-Kipnes), has created a nutritious dog cookie called Pup’s Palate. She and her friend Gina (Kathryn Davis) team up to get the cookies on pet store shelves everywhere. No one’s interested except Alex (Huszar), a store manager for Paws & Wellness, a large chain. Alex and Scarlett are immediately drawn to each other. He decides to carry the cookies and arranges for Scarlett and Gina to pitch their product to the regional manager, Michelle (Victoria Maria), who then offers to place it in more of the chain’s stores. But Paul (Darrin Baker), the owner of Pup Chuck, the chain’s biggest supplier, is vocal in his disapproval of Pup’s Palate, so Michelle withdraws the offer. Disappointed, Scarlett and Gina set up a booth outside the store to promote their product and stage a cookie taste test for pups. When it appears that Alex has ruined Scarlett’s business, their budding romance is in jeopardy.
PROS
Because of this film’s writer, Keith Hemstreet, I was eager to see it. Hemstreet wrote the screenplays to such gems as My Christmas Guide (2023) and Noel Next Door (2022).
Lamothe-Kipnes and Huszar as Scarlett and Alex. Playing these characters, the actors had a nice rapport. Scarlett and Alex’s connection was clear when they locked eyes during the meet-cute in which she spilled birdseed in his store, went on a coffee date, and enjoyed rock climbing. And both characters had admirable qualities. Scarlett never compromised on her principles and wouldn’t let setbacks stand in her way, while Alex was an honest guy with good intentions. And he showed sensitivity in how he gently discouraged clingy Michelle. Alex always had Scarlett’s back, but because she had trust issues, she sometimes didn’t realize it. She believed he’d sent a video of the taste test to Michelle to sabotage Pup’s Palate, but he’d only wanted to show Michelle how popular these cookies were. The scene in which Scarlett accused Alex of destroying her company had poignancy; I could feel her intense hurt. I liked how Alex did everything in his power to make things right, including talking to Scarlett’s father, a conversation she overheard. The leads were good together, and I’m also giving a nod to Kathryn Davis as Gina, Scarlett’s steadfast and encouraging friend.
Sticking it to greedy corporate types. This film took pleasure in poking fun at people like Paul, the slimy, power-hungry owner of a soulless corporation. Baker played Paul with villainous glee, which was entertaining. The movie sided with small entrepreneurs who create quality products, not big companies that don’t. As Scarlett emphasized, she prioritized the health of puppies over profits. Paul cared only about his profit margin, and he cut back on healthful ingredients to save money. And he was so intent on dominating the dog cookie market that he made threats to Michelle to pull Pup’s Palate from the shelves, and she easily caved. To my satisfaction, this wicked guy got his just deserts, for when Alex and Scarlett (dressed in a dog mascot costume) crashed a meeting with Paul and the executives of Paws & Wellness, the CEO supported Pup’s Palate, especially after a dog at the office smelled Scarlett’s cookies from afar and came running for them. This whimsical scene was the highlight of the movie. Scarlett also won the day when she rejected Paul’s offer to buy her company; she couldn’t bear to see him wreck what she’d built.
A plethora of puppies. Who doesn’t love puppies? The wee canines got ample screen time here. Fluffball golden retriever pups tumbled over each other to get treats, and they smothered Scarlett with love when she felt discouraged. The older dogs melted my heart too; Alex lovingly washed his dog in his kitchen sink, which was adorable to watch. And in the final scene, he and Scarlett camped with their dogs. Watch for the cute “pup tent” the dogs were hanging out in.
CONS
A slow start. Though it rated high on the comfy, cozy scale because of the dogs and its light, easygoing tone, Everything Puppies didn’t grab me in the beginning. It seemed to plod along, and the pace didn’t pick up until well into the story—not until Alex made the disastrous move of sending the video to Michelle. The film required patience from viewers, but if you stuck with it, you might have felt rewarded by the last half, just as I was.
Poor Maggie. The dog was lethargic, causing Scarlett concern. Maggie had just had a litter several weeks earlier and was again pregnant, this time with ten puppies. I was disturbed by this. The mother dog wasn’t given adequate time to rest between litters, and I was shocked that Scarlett and her father, who showed nothing but affection for their dogs throughout, had enabled this. It was a sour note in an otherwise sweet movie.
My grade for Everything Puppies: B
Caroline Kaiser is a professional book editor who specializes in fiction and memoirs, and she’s been guiding writers toward publication since 2007. Caroline is also the author of two ghostly mystery novels, Virginia’s Ghost and The Spirits of South Drive. Before she embarked on an editing and writing career, she spent many years working in a Toronto auction house as an antiques appraiser. Apart from curling up on the couch and drinking tea as she watches Hallmark movies, Caroline enjoys baking and exploring London, Ontario, the picturesque city she now calls home. Her website is www.carolinekaisereditor.com.
