Dog: Channing Tatum Co-Directs and Stars in PTSD-Scarred CanineTale of

Star Channing Tatum also co-directed (with his Magic Mike collaborator Reid Carolin) this predictable feature, which represents a passion project.

The tale, overextended in running time to qualify as a feature, was inspired by a 2017 HBO documentary, War Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend, that they had executive produced.

In this fictional version, the actor plays Jackson Briggs, an Army Ranger desperate to see action again after getting sidelined by a brain injury that induces seizures.

To get back into his commanding officer’s good graces, he accepts an assignment to drive Lulu, an army dog so that she can attend the funeral of her late handler.

Briggs and the canine, also traumatized by her wartime experiences, hit the road for a trip of 1,500 miles in his lovingly restored ’84 Bronco.

They make an oddly lovingly couple. In the process, Briggs interacts in various ways with the Belgian Malinois.  He speaks to her, argues with her, lovingly caresses, ignores her (briefly), and, at one even takes a bath with her.