A man’s best friend truly is a man’s best friend.
Directed by John Sheedy, Runt beautifully portrays the deep bond between a dog and found family, highlighting themes of family, love, and loyalty. Runt, played by the rescue mutt Squid, embarks on a journey to from finding a forever home to saving the home, taking viewers through a touching exploration of these themes.
At the heart of Runt‘s story is 11-year-old Annie Shearer (Lily LaTorre). Annie lives with her family in the small, rural town of Upson Downs. The dynamic of the Shearer family adds life to the story: Bryan (Jai Courtney) and Susie (Celeste Barber) are hardworking parents, Max (Jack LaTorre) the daredevil YouTube brother, and Grandma Dolly (Genevieve Lemon) with her loving warmth.
Bryan introduces the backbone of the story involving local wealthy man Earl Robert-Barren (Jack Thompson), who aims to buy up the town’s farmlands at a bargain due to the yearlong drought. This adds tension to the story and allows us to see the struggles that the Shearers‘ family has in finding ways to keep their home.
The plot takes a turn when Annie discovers a canine agility course competition at a local fair. She sees this as an opportunity to win a cash prize and help her family, despite not fully understanding financial terms like overdrafts. Not wanting her family to know the truth, her little lie involved her mother’s uniquely delicious pies. This allows us to then later have Bryan bonding with his daughter and showing his support for Annie’s newfound passion, even if he himself is hesitant to pursue his own publicly.
Annie and Runt‘s participation in the agility course introduces a new challenge. Getting into the top 3 at the local Crumpet’s Dog Show. With help from Bernadette Box (Deborah Mailman), previously a renown trainer, as well as the supportive townspeople, Annie and Runt are given a way to travel from Australia to London for the Crumpets Dog Show’s Agility Course Grand Championships. The community’s support adds a heartfelt touch to the story. Community standing is important in different areas in our lives, and this was portrayed nicely.
The film also introduces Fergus Fink (Matt Day) as the antagonist. Fergus Fink, a self-serving competitor, poses a threat to Annie and Runt’s chances. His flashy and predictable villainy contrasts sharply with the genuine and heartfelt journey of our two protagonists who showcase a stronger bond between man and best friend, rather than an owner, his paid trainer and dog.
One of the film’s highlights is the impressive display of trained dogs, each showcasing their unique skills and adding charm to the story. These well-groomed and talented dogs provide a visually engaging spectacle beyond the actual film, which follows Annie and Runt. The richness in this towards the end of the film also allows us to reengage in what is important besides Annie and Runt’s bond – the agility course.
It was also a nice glimpse of nostalgia from the first Apple Laptop to Max and his camcorder, recording his tricks and stunts for YouTube. In a way, it shows how far we have come from when the film was set, to now with technology, that there are still ways that we can bond and communicate outside the use of technology, such as local fairs and being present in the now with the people around us like Annie and Runt.
Although I admittedly haven’t read Craig Silvey’s best-selling storybook of the same name, its film adaptation is clearly a light, family-friendly film suitable for all ages. This predictable yet heartwarming narrative makes Runt a mighty enjoyable watch for the school holidays. Runt subtly incorporates its Australian setting without the typical jargons and antics to the audience, warmly offering a delightful experience for viewers that there is more to Australia.
Runt is in cinemas nationally from September 19.