There are several scenes of drug dealing and extensive abuse of illegal drugs, alcohol and prescriptions drugs throughout. Drugs/Alcohol: Drugs are the centerpiece of this story.But one doesn’t necessarily have to endure nearly two hours of less-than-stellar, non-redemptive entertainment to learn something from the likes of Johnny Truelove.
That’s not to say that events in Alpha Dog couldn’t provide a springboard for meaningful discussion, however. Rather, we’re shown just another caricature that’s about as realistic as the rap videos these kids are watching in the first place. That too many rap videos, boredom and bad parenting can cause young adults to act in ways they normally wouldn’t.īut unfortunately, the artificial gloss of the characters and unrealistic dialogue-where prose is exchanged for a string of expletives-doesn’t do much to get the message across. Of course, what we’re supposed to learn from this senseless tragedy is that unfortunate incidents like these happen everyday-even in affluent neighborhoods. That is, if he’ll take care of Zach permanently. Not sure what to do with Zach since they don’t want him tagging along any longer, Johnny eventually freaks out and offers Elvis the chance to pay off his debts for good. While Elvis works off his debt through menial tasks and bouts of abuse and tolerates it day after day, Jake isn’t nearly as congenial and retaliates by trashing Johnny’s house. Without any guidance from his parents, portrayed by the emotionally detached Bruce Willis and Sharon Stone (who incidentally is wearing a “fat suit” that’s so odd and distracting that it makes her role seem more comical than serious), Johnny is on a dead-end path that eventually leads to a spot on America’s Most Wanted.īased on a true story, the mayhem begins with a few petty quarrels that escalate when two of his young clients, Elvis ( Shawn Hatosy) and Jake ( Ben Foster) owe Johnny some cash. In what’s essentially CSI meets The O.C., we’re introduced to Johnny Truelove ( Emile Hirsch), a spoiled kid moonlighting as a drug dealer who’s always looking for his next thrill-whether it’s video games, rap videos, sex, drinking or constantly insulting people. Instead, it’s the faulty re-telling of a cautionary tale that’s really not worth all the effort in the first place.
In fact, he’s probably one of the film’s better actors in what’s ultimately a minor role. Surprisingly enough, it’s not Timberlake’s acting that makes Alpha Dog such a dud of a movie. Memo to Justin Timberlake: Next time you consider a cinematic detour from your musician's day job, find a stronger script. Rating: R (pervasive drug use, language, strong violence, sexuality and nudity)Īctors: Bruce Willis, Matthew Barry, Emile Hirsch, Justin Timberlake, Ben Foster, Shawn Hatosy, Anton Yelchin and Sharon Stone Theatrical Release Date: January 12, 2007