Now in limited release:

Year of the Dog
Grade: B-

Bisexual screenwriter Mike White (Chuck & Buck) makes his directing debut with this uneven black comedy about a spinster (Molly Shannon) who fiercely embraces animal activism after her beloved pooch eats poison and dies. It’s great to see Shannon land a leading role after years of bit acting, and she proves that she can handle subtle moments along with the demented physical comedy that made her Saturday Night Live years so memorable. Regina King and John C. Reilly are hilarious, but the usually reliable Laura Dern and Peter Sarsgaard don’t take their characters anyplace interesting.