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Bark

2002

"Bark" is a film that defies classification. It's neither pure comedy nor straight drama. The characters are quirky, but not comical. Moments of levity are tempered by sadness.

Bark apparently defied marketing, as well. While the movie was making the rounds of film festivals (starting with Sundance in January 2002), it was described more-or-less accurately:

"A playful canine twist on Kafka’s "Metamorphosis." ... Peter (Lee Tergesen) is a devoted husband who suddenly finds himself out of his depth with a mysterious malady that afflicts his wife (Heather Morgan): She thinks she’s a dog. Earlier in their marriage, Lucy was a tender spouse and a gentle animal lover. Over time, she has chosen to abandon all human forms of communication and retreat into her seemingly safer world. As Lucy’s condition worsens, Peter’s desperation drives him to seek the help of others, including his loser best friend (Hank Azaria), a high-strung psychiatrist (Vincent D’Onofrio), and an offbeat veterinarian (Lisa Kudrow). Between this collection of misfit “experts” and his absurdly self-absorbed in-laws ... Lucy’s refusal to continue as a human may not seem so crazy after all."

Alas, "Bark" never achieved theatrical distribution past the film festival circuit, so it went straight to DVD/video. That's where an even greater identity crisis takes place. The packaging suggests a sexy farce: The cover features the rear view of a woman in tight cut-offs with a paw print on one back pocket. The whimsical tag line is "Who's Walking Whom?" Where did this come from?

Even more baffling is the trailer for "Bark," which focuses on the dating life of Darla Portnoy, Lisa Kudrow's character. As one reviewer put it, the trailer "hilariously sidesteps the entire woman-who-thinks-she's-a-dog angle and tries to pass itself off as a Lisa Kudrow flick." 

Of course, it is not. 

This is a Lee Tergesen movie. 

As Anne, Lee's No. 1 fan, so perfectly puts it: 

Among Lee Tergesen movies so far, this is his piece de resistance --- not only because he has more screen time than in any other movie he’s made, but because he gets to play such a wide variety of emotions.

More to come.