As a North Dakota native, I always enjoy seeing how my former home state contributes to cinema, regardless of genre. They're few and far between. Occasionally, you'll see an adaptation of a novel set in Fargo or an independent film shot there. One of Minot's own has become a big-name star, but generally speaking, the state rarely makes the film news. AJ Goes to the Dog Park, a low-budget comedy made by a group of friends in Fargo and set to play in the Midwest, isn't necessarily going to put North Dakota on the star map, but it will certainly draw attention to the charm and peculiarity of its setting.
The Fargo it portrays isn't far removed from the Coen brothers' fictional Fargo of a few decades ago, even though that modern classic only had one scene set in the town of its name. AJ Goes to the Dog Park is full of eccentric characters who speak with the region's distinctive cadence. While Fargo was set primarily in the harsh winter, surrounded by crime and scams, AJ Goes to the Dog Park is pure summer sunshine and gentle comedy. It's as absurd as its title, if not more so.
Director: Toby Jones
Writer: Toby Jones
Stars: AJ Thompson, Greg Carlson, Danny Davy
AJ (played by AJ Thompson) is your average North Dakotan. If you've lived there, you know him. He's a creature of routine, content with his monotonous routine of cinnamon-sugar toast, dinners with Dad or friends, and leisurely workdays. He's so content with his routine that he shudders at the mere thought of an interruption like a promotion or a move. The highlight of AJ's day is his regular visit to the dog park with his beloved Chihuahuas, Diddy and Biff.
Conflict arises when, out of the blue one day, cowardly AJ discovers that his beloved dog park has been targeted by the evil mayor's pet urban renewal project. Now, it's a "blog park" where keyboard warriors tap away on their laptops. Get it? Blog park? Just so you know, that pun is pretty representative of the simplicity of this film's humor. But the conceit will be enough to shake the protagonist out of his apathy and give his life a purpose.
To reclaim his community dog park, AJ will have to abandon his mild-mannered demeanor and fight the city council; or, more specifically, the despotic mayor whose pet project, the "blog park," is dear to his heart. To challenge his draconian rule, AJ will have to, as the wacky plot demands, "fight, fish, scrape, scrape, and undermine," none of which will make much sense to non-North Dakotan viewers, but it's rational enough in this film's intricate universe.
The film's aesthetic, courtesy of writer-director-producer and former Fargoan Toby Jones (not to be confused with the British actor, though you don't want to), borrows from practically everything and everywhere for the constant stream of gags. Shot over three summers, on a tight budget with a non-professional cast and crew, Jones's direction is unflappable. There are no sight gags, bad puns, absurdities, or tangents the film refuses to address. Much of the film's joie de vivre comes from its visual aesthetic, especially in the animated sequences. One in particular, a battle near the end, is a true delight inspired by Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Kudos to Jones and crew for making this possible. The film's bravado, its brashness, and its brashness are quite reminiscent of the brilliance of Hundreds of Beavers, another recent Midwestern indie comedy that refused to bow to commercial or generic restrictions. I can't say I found AJ Goes to the Dog Park particularly funny, save for a few low-key laughs here and there and a general appreciation for the project. Too many gags aren't very good, and, although it pains me to say it, Thompson is a believably brilliant Fargoian, but not a very charismatic cinematic protagonist on whose shoulders a feature-length narrative can rest.
Jones and the crew would probably agree with that. In the film's press notes, he comments that there's nothing "as satisfying as coming up with something absurd and impossible and shooting it, despite our utter lack of resources." In fact, there's something, as he puts it, "rebellious and cathartic" about making a movie for the sake of it, with friends and family you've known for years, without worrying about whether anyone else will like what you've made. Whether you laugh or roll your eyes at "AJ Goes to the Dog Park," it's undeniably made in the purist style of independent filmmaking.
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