Like the title character,[Red Dog] was a film that seemingly came from nowhere to capture the hearts of all Australians. While briefly residing in Australia, Louis de Bernieres author of ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ collected and embellished outback legends about a wandering dog. Kriv Stenders’ film gives the book’s stories a colourful life and pumps up the whimsy so the film gleefully intoxicates. Human co-stars, Josh Lucas and Rachael Taylor who play lovers John and Nancy give relaxed light-hearted performances, but the film belongs to sharp-eyed kelpie, Koko. An unexpected blockbuster, at time of writing the film was Australia’s biggest hit of the year pulling in $7.6 million ($8 million U.S.) at the Australian box office in as little as three weeks. The world of this independent four-legged adventurer and matchmaker who is everybody’s (well nearly everybody’s) friend, makes for a film that greets an audience with an easy smile and knowingly tugs on the heartstrings to bring even the toughest viewers to the edge of tears. (Russell EDWARDS)