Dog Days
Los Angeles, California, is the main and heart-warming scenario where life and fate interconnect five different stories as well as their characters with their respective canine pets: Elizabeth is a famous newscaster of a morning TV show; after a disastrous interview with former basketball player Jimmy, Elizabeth's boss decides to contract Jimmy as co-host due to the high ratings of the interview. On another side of the city, Tara is a waiter of a coffee shop who passes her days talking with her shallow and dog-walker friend Daisy. Tara, who is crazy about the friendly but full of himself vet Dr. Mike, one day meets Garrett, the eccentric and shy owner of an animal care center who is unable to tell Tara that he loves her. Grace and Kurt are a married couple made nervous by the arrival of their first adoptive child, Amelia; they see that the child doesn't seem happy with her new home and her new parents. Dax is a teen in the body of adult, and leader of the aspiring rock band Frunk, who after a visit to his pregnant sister Ruth and her husband Greg, is forced to keep and care for Ruth's dog, despite the building where Dax lives not allowing dogs. Finally Walter, an aging and lonely widower, loses his pet when it escapes from his hand, receiving the unexpected help of a pizza delivery boy named Tyler to find it. As time moves on, things complicate for everyone: Elizabeth and Jimmy start to feel attracted to each other, making their work more difficult, especially after Elizabeth discovers that Jimmy has been hired for a more important job in another channel. Tara accepts Garrett's offer to work as volunteer in his animal care center at the same time she starts to date Dr. Mike; meanwhile Garrett learns that the owner of the building has sold it and he'll lose the center. Amelia finds Walter's dog, which makes her happy, but Grace and Kurt fear that one day Amelia will lose her new friend if the owner appears; Dax is caring for Ruth's dog, although eventually it starts to put order in his life, even as it creates trouble to hide it from his neighbors. Walter decides use his formation as teacher to help Tyler with his academic studies, preparing exams for some Tyler's teachers as Kurt. Unaware for all the people including to her own, Tara's decision to organize a concert to get funds looking for save Garrett's animal care center will cause that all the stories collide between them, revealing as life, fate and dogs are more related than anyone can imagine.
The film underperformed commercially against its modest budget of $10.0M, earning $6.8M globally (-32% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unconventional structure within the comedy genre.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Dog Days (2018) exemplifies carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Ken Marino's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 52 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Montage establishes various dog owners in Los Angeles living separate, disconnected lives: Elizabeth the barista, Tara the newscaster, Walter the aging widower, and others going through their routines with their dogs.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Tara's dog Chihuahua escapes during a segment, creating chaos. Simultaneously, various disruptions hit other characters: the adoption couple faces challenges, Walter's loneliness deepens, and circumstances force each character to confront their isolation.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Elizabeth actively chooses to continue helping Tara search for her lost dog, marking the beginning of their relationship. Other characters make parallel choices: Walter adopts a dog, the couple commits to pet adoption, connections begin forming across the ensemble., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Tara's dog is found, creating a false victory. Multiple relationships reach high points: romantic connections seem solid, the adoption couple gets approved, everyone appears happy. But stakes raise as characters must now sustain these connections without the "excuse" of searching., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, A major setback threatens the central relationships: Tara and Elizabeth have a falling out; other relationships fracture under pressure; a dog faces a health crisis (whiff of death). Characters retreat to their former isolated states, connections seemingly broken., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Characters gain new perspective and choose to fight for their connections. Elizabeth realizes she must be honest about her feelings; others make similar breakthroughs. They synthesize the lesson: love (human and canine) is worth the risk of loss., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Dog Days's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Dog Days against these established plot points, we can identify how Ken Marino utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Dog Days within the comedy genre.
Ken Marino's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Ken Marino films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Dog Days represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Ken Marino filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Ken Marino analyses, see How to Be a Latin Lover.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Montage establishes various dog owners in Los Angeles living separate, disconnected lives: Elizabeth the barista, Tara the newscaster, Walter the aging widower, and others going through their routines with their dogs.
Theme
A character remarks that "dogs bring people together" and that connections happen when you least expect them, establishing the film's theme about how pets facilitate human relationships and community.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of all ensemble characters and their situations: Elizabeth works at a coffee shop and is single; Tara is a workaholic news anchor; Dara and Tyler are an adopting couple; Walter grieves his late wife; Kurt the pizza delivery guy pines for his crush; Grace struggles with her daughter's departure for college.
Disruption
Tara's dog Chihuahua escapes during a segment, creating chaos. Simultaneously, various disruptions hit other characters: the adoption couple faces challenges, Walter's loneliness deepens, and circumstances force each character to confront their isolation.
Resistance
Characters reluctantly begin reaching out: Elizabeth agrees to help Tara find her dog; the veterinarian advises Walter to adopt; Dara and Tyler debate whether they're ready to adopt a dog (and implicitly, a child); each character resists change while their dogs nudge them forward.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Elizabeth actively chooses to continue helping Tara search for her lost dog, marking the beginning of their relationship. Other characters make parallel choices: Walter adopts a dog, the couple commits to pet adoption, connections begin forming across the ensemble.
Mirror World
Elizabeth and Tara's growing friendship (the B-story) begins in earnest as they bond over the search. This relationship will teach both characters about vulnerability and connection, embodying the film's theme about opening up to others.
Premise
The "fun and games" of dogs bringing people together: romantic connections develop, friendships form at the dog park, characters experience the joy of companionship. Montages show the various relationships blossoming through dog-walking, veterinary visits, and chance encounters.
Midpoint
Tara's dog is found, creating a false victory. Multiple relationships reach high points: romantic connections seem solid, the adoption couple gets approved, everyone appears happy. But stakes raise as characters must now sustain these connections without the "excuse" of searching.
Opposition
Relationships face tests: Tara pulls away from Elizabeth due to work pressure; romantic relationships hit obstacles; the adoption couple faces complications; characters' fears of intimacy and change resurface. Old patterns threaten new connections.
Collapse
A major setback threatens the central relationships: Tara and Elizabeth have a falling out; other relationships fracture under pressure; a dog faces a health crisis (whiff of death). Characters retreat to their former isolated states, connections seemingly broken.
Crisis
Characters process their losses and fears alone with their dogs. Moments of reflection where each realizes what they've been avoiding and what they truly need: genuine connection requires vulnerability and risk.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Characters gain new perspective and choose to fight for their connections. Elizabeth realizes she must be honest about her feelings; others make similar breakthroughs. They synthesize the lesson: love (human and canine) is worth the risk of loss.
Synthesis
The finale brings the ensemble together at a dog adoption event/dog park gathering. Characters actively repair relationships, make grand gestures, and choose connection over safety. Romantic relationships reconcile, friendships deepen, the community comes together.
Transformation
Closing montage mirrors the opening but shows transformation: the same characters now connected, helping each other, forming a community. Elizabeth and Tara together, the adoption couple with their new family, Walter no longer alone. Dogs have indeed brought people together.