A terminally ill Vietnam veteran finds solace and purpose in rescuing an abused dog no one else wanted, rediscovering the meaning of life and the profound power of companionship.

Review by Julie Sheppard:

While this short Roxy & The Man runs only 28 minutes, it is chock full of heart. Although the film notably appeals to dog fans given its central canine figures, its messaging is one of love, and faithfulness – themes of universal appeal.

From the outset with the quote “Dog Spelled backwards is God”, we can tell that the creators have an engaging sense of humour. This humour is played out beautifully by the lead performer whose humble honesty and kindness shine through both vocally with his soothing, raspy voice and visually with his physical expressions of cheeky warmth. The clever cinematography often zooms in on his friendly face and on the adorable dogs in the film. There are also many gorgeous scenes of a pristine beach, palm-lined vistas, and a striking sunset.

The screenplay moves the action along at a good pace, as you sense that the lead is beating the odds, beyond his initial cancer diagnosis, largely due to his ongoing connection with geriatric dogs.

Perfectly complementing the heartwarming sentiment of the film is the resonant soundtrack, with its melodic guitar, poignant piano and stirring vocals about togetherness.

The quote near the end “You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it” serves the film perfectly – as with the opening quote, man’s best friend takes on a saving, spiritual role!

Written & Directed by Joey Medina
Starring: Paul Rodriguez