The Art of Racing in the Rain is a 2019 American comedy drama film directed by Simon Curtis and written by Mark Bomback, based on the 2008 novel of the same name by author Garth Stein.
In Seattle, an elderly Golden Retriever named Enzo is too weak to move, so he waits for his owner, professional race car driver Denny Swift, to carry him outside.
Their relationship grows quickly, which Enzo envies, until one day Eve confides in him her love for Denny, which he accepts.
At Christmas, Denny is invited to drive for Team Penske in the 24 Hours of Daytona in late January, a few weeks before Eve's due date.
A few years pass and Enzo finds family life idyllic, while Denny spends prolonged periods away racing.
Financially and emotionally exhausted, Denny signs an out-of-court settlement, giving up custody of Zoë for visitation and erasing the assault charge.
After a practice session, a young fan with golden hair approaches Denny for an autograph and introduces himself as Enzo.
In July 2009, Universal Pictures bought the film rights to the prize-winning novel The Art of Racing in the Rain.
[6] In 2017, screenwriter Mark Bomback revealed that the project was now set up at 20th Century Fox, saying, "I'm hoping the third time's the charm, and I'm optimistic that next year will be when it finally goes into production.
[11] The Art of Racing in the Rain was released on Digital HD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on October 29, 2019, and on DVD and Blu-ray on November 5, 2019.
[1] In the United States and Canada, the film was released alongside The Kitchen, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Brian Banks, and was projected to gross $6–8 million from 2,700 theaters in its opening weekend.
The site's critical consensus reads: "Its heartstring-tugging overtures may be difficult for dog lovers to resist, but The Art of Racing in the Rain is sentimental and contrived.
[2] Ed Potton of The Sunday Times gave the film a positive review, observing that the premise "really shouldn't work, yet somehow it steers a course between corniness and barminess.
"[18] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote: "Granted, there aren't a lot of surprises in The Art of Racing in the Rain.
"[19] Charlotte O'Sullivan of the Evening Standard gave the film 2 out of 5 stars, calling it "strong contender for most ridiculous tearjerker of the year,"[20] while Adam Graham of The Detroit News gave the film a "C" on an A to F scale, noting that "this tale of friendship and companionship between man and man's best friend is bogged down in weepy cliches ripped straight from the Art of Making the Audience Cry handbook.