Product Details

• Actors: Diane Keaton, Kevin Kline, Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Sam Shepard
• Directors: Lawrence Kasdan
• Writers: Lawrence Kasdan, Meg Kasdan
• Producers: Andrew Peterson, Anthony Bregman, Christine K. Walker, Elizabeth Redleaf, John J. Kelly
• Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: August 28, 2012
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (92 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0088X7Z6S
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,410 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Darling Companion" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The title of Darling Companion hints at all the ways love touches the soul. At the center of Lawrence Kasdan's warm romantic drama is the relationship between a rescued dog and the woman who saves him, Beth (played with a lot of heart by Diane Keaton). Yet as with the best Kasdan films (The Big Chill, Grand Canyon), the couples surrounding the central one also become a focus, as things they learn cause them to grow and sometimes chafe. The cast is stellar, including Kevin Kline as Joseph ("I prefer that to Joe," he snaps), a prickly surgeon who may be taking his wonderful family for granted. Dianne Wiest plays Beth's lusty sister, Penny, whose new beau, Russell (Richard Jenkins), at first rubs the sophisticated Beth and Joseph the wrong way. Elisabeth Moss is Grace, one of Beth and Joseph's daughters, whose heart will also be touched in unexpected ways after the rescue of the dog--named Freeway for the location he was found. Well cast as a grizzled old coot of a county sheriff is Sam Shepard, who just may have a soft spot under his crusty exterior. Darling Companion is also a visual treat, shot on location around Colorado and especially in the picturesque town of Telluride. Yet despite the engaging cast (including the dog who plays Freeway), Darling Companion comes up short in the story department. The script has none of the crispness or surprise of Kasdan's better films and could have used a good 20 minutes trimmed from its length. Fans of the cast, and dog lovers, will still find Darling Companion an enjoyable experience--but it's far too light to have any lasting impact. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

In Darling Companion, Beth (Diane Keaton) saves a bedraggled lost dog from the side of the freeway on a wintry day in Denver. Struggling with her distracted, self-involved husband Joseph (Kevin Kline) and an empty nest at home, Beth forms a special bond with the rescued animal. When Joseph loses the dog after their daughter's (Elisabeth Moss) wedding at their vacation home in the Rockies, Beth, distraught and angry with Joseph, enlists the help of the few remaining guests (Dianne Wiest, Richard Jenkins, Mark Duplass) and a mysterious woman (Ayelet Zurer) in a frantic search.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

118 of 121 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Makes a nice change June 28, 2012

By L. Miller

Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ok, I've seen the low reviews for this movie. And if I could give it 31/2 stars I would. But what a nice change of pace it makes! It's a warm, intimate movie with a truly wonderful ensemble cast, a cute dog and a gorgeous setting. What's not to like? There are some subplots, but the gist of the movie is that Diane Keaton (Beth) and Kevin Kline (Joseph) are in an empty marriage. She rescues a wounded dog near the freeway, and he loses it on a walk while he's on his cell phone as usual, which brings their tension to a head. Diane Weist and Richard Jenkins, lovers whose relationship worries the others, help in the search, along with her son. The part gypsy housekeeper keeps pairing them up in certain ways and telling them her visions of what they are to search for, but what they are really seeking is to understand each other. And that is the heart of the movie. It is obviously geared for boomers (is that its great sin?), and has some humorous references to growing older which are easily relatable. If you're tired of comic book heroes, vampires, and grossout comedies, and want to see a gentle, feel-good little charmer, give it a chance. And thank you Lawrence Kasdan!

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars KASDAN STILL HAS THE TOUCH August 28, 2012

By Mark Turner

Format:DVD

It's been 9 years since director Lawrence Kasdan put out a film, the last being DREAMCATCHER. More than that if you can remember the type of film he is best known for, an ensemble piece that captures the essence of what being human is all about. His classic THE BIG CHILL is but a forgotten memory to some and unknown to a new generation of movie goers. But Kasdan has always excelled at these ensemble pieces and it's nice to see him in true form with DARLING COMPANION.

Many will look at the box for this release and think it is nothing more than another animal picture. That does set the stage for this tale but it isn't the main ingredient. Diane Keaton plays Beth, the mother of one daughter Ellie (Lindsay Sloane) who's moved her family to New York and another Grace (Elisabeth Moss) who's in school. After dropping Ellie off at the airport while driving home, Beth tells Grace to stop the car on the freeway. There, they find a wounded and lost dog that they take home. While Beth's husband Joseph (Kevin Kline) insists the dog isn't staying time passes and it's a year later.

While the family has grown accustomed to the dog, now named Freeway, a new change is about to kick in. Grace is about to marry the veterinarian they took the dog to when they first found him. The wedding is in the family vacation home on Colorado and goes smoothly. New characters are introduced including Joseph's sister Penny (Dianne Wiest) and her new boyfriend Russell (Richard Jenkins) and housekeeper Carmen (Ayelet Zurer). They are the last remaining guests for the night after the wedding as well as Penny's son and Joseph's fellow back surgeon Bryan (Mark Duplas).

With the intent of staying just a few days it all changes when during Joseph loses Freeway while taking him for a walk. Having not taken along the dog's whistle and losing him while talking on his cell phone (something he does constantly), Beth blames him for the loss of the dog which has taken on an extreme amount of importance to her over the past year. Joseph thinks she's over reacting to the dog's loss and that he will come home. Beth thinks Joseph is unfeeling and just wants to ignore his personal responsibilities.

All hands join in in the search for Freeway. Things get a bit more interesting when Carmen reveals she is of gypsy descent and has the ability to "see things". Following the clues she offers them, each member of the group is paired off and the search goes forward. Along the way each of these characters gets to know the other a little better. Bryan gets to know Russell a bit more as he tries to decide if the man is just after his mother's pension in hopes of building a pub. Bryan and Carmen get close as well. Penny and Russell show that theirs is perhaps the closest relationship in the group. And Beth and Joseph are forced to look back at the choices they've made through the years and to discover that love that they once shared long ago. Has it died or was it simply misplaced over the years?

Kasdan has always done a great job with ensemble pieces like this. Both THE BIG CHILL and GRAND CANYON are works that bring together a cast of characters and have them intertwine throughout the story being told, coming together and moving apart, discovering who they really are and who the others around them are and finally realizing the things that are truly important to each of them.

Kids of the MTV generation that want answers and want them in five minutes will have a difficult time with this movie. There are no neat and tidy summations in the first 5 minutes or within the first hour of the film. Instead we watch the characters mingle back and forth until the end of the film when the search for Freeway ends either in his loss or discovery. But then to tell you what happens would be to create the worst spoiler ever.

Well made and well thought out, this film entertains from start to finish. And above all is some of the best acting around. Keaton remains a fantastic actress and looks amazing. Kline in his sixth film with Kasdan turns in an effortless performance. And the rest of the cast falls in line with these two leads to offer totally believable characters.

This is not an action film, a horror film or a teen comedy. This is a movie about real people with real problems who find themselves after having tucked away emotions and ideas for some period of time. As the characters reveal themselves so does the story. It's nice to see a film take the time to speak rather than rush everything.

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "CHARMING, HEARTWARMING, INTIMATE!" August 18, 2012

By Geraldine Ahearn TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

Beth and Joseph are in an empty marriage, along with an empty nest. Beth rescues a wounded dog near the highway, and develops a special bond with the dog. Her husband loses the dog, and Beth becomes distraught and upset as she forms a frantic search. In the process and unexpected,different people meet and various couples are in desperate need of healing. The intriguing story portrays relationships, love,and loss. Some are on the verge of divorce, others feel empty, and some are looking for soul-mates. Acting Performance of entire cast is Excellent, the story is heartfelt, and the movie entertains from start to finish. The adorable dog is an added attraction, and the setting is perfect. An enjoyable summer movie. Refreshing, and Highly Recommended!