Does the Good Boy Live by the End of Good Boy?<\/p>\n
Well, we can allay your concerns: The dog almost certainly lives.<\/p>\n
I have not seen the film yet, but let\u2019s look at the evidence. Yes, lovable Indy certainly faces some supernatural peril along the way, but it seems the chances of him dying by the end of the movie are almost zero. The marketing team even dropped an exclusive PSA<\/a> earlier this month (watch it above) that basically confirmed this after many prospective fans were making comments on social media inquiring as to Indy\u2019s fate.<\/p>\n The studio even dropped a PSA that basically confirmed that the dog lives.<\/p>\n Thankfully, director Ben Leonberg, who is making his feature debut with this film, knew that most people probably didn\u2019t want to see a good boy hurt. It makes extra sense too since Indy, who is named that in both the film and real life, is in fact Leonberg\u2019s own dog. And although Indy\u2019s in-universe human is named Todd and is played by Shane Jensen, Leonberg sometimes stood in for Todd<\/a> in shots where he could get away with it, cementing Indy\u2019s performance as he played with his IRL best friend on camera.<\/p>\n More: Good Boy Movie Review<\/a><\/p>\n How Good Boy Was Made<\/p>\n By all accounts, Indy\u2019s performance is the biggest reason to see this movie beyond the novel gimmick of centering the movie on a dog\u2019s POV, with the canine actor receiving a Howl of Fame Award<\/a> out of SXSW for his work. Most reviews have spotlighted how well Indy works as the film\u2019s lead, which is backed up by how Leonberg chose to shoot the film. He and cinematographer Wade Grebnoel keep the camera almost always<\/a> at Indy\u2019s eye level, and the human characters mostly have their faces obscured aside from in a handful of key moments. While some filmgoers may be reticent about an entire movie shot in this style, the positive reviews and confirmation of Indy\u2019s survival indicate that most people who go see it will be pleased with the experience.<\/p>\n Leonberg will also hopefully be pleased with the film\u2019s reception, since he and Indy certainly put their time in to make it. Good Boy was shot over the course of three years<\/a> because of stipulations as to how long dogs can work on sets. Most productions that film with live animals and not CGI counterparts require the use of several doubles of the animal actors since they can\u2019t work for more than three hours a day. But Good Boy exclusively used Indy because of his connection to Leonberg, meaning shooting days were on Indy\u2019s schedule, not his owner\u2019s. Leonberg and his producing partner (and wife) Kari Fischer set up their own production company (called What’s Wrong With Your Dog?) and lived in the house the film is set in while making the film, meaning the endeavor was a true labor of love for everyone involved.<\/p>\n Directors and Their Dogs<\/p>\n And that\u2019s the real story at the heart of Good Boy: the love shared between a dog and their human, only this time they\u2019re threatened by a malevolent force. Reviews say that the genuine bond shared by Leonberg and Indy comes out on screen and is a huge part of what seems to have made the film creatively successful. It also fits in with dogs having a big moment in film in 2025, with Krypto the Superdog making a big splash as part of James Gunn\u2019s Superman reboot. Although Krypto was ultimately created with digital VFX for Superman, his model was based on Gunn\u2019s own dog Ozu<\/a>, meaning both Good Boy and Superman feature their director\u2019s dogs. Why else make a movie but to put your dog on the big screen, really?<\/p>\n As for Indy\u2019s future in the business and whether the dog actor may take on more film roles, Leonberg addressed the idea in an interview with Entertainment Weekly<\/a>, saying \u201cI think he’s retired and very happy. But if the right dog food brand wants to make a Super Bowl commercial, we’ll certainly entertain it. He loves to work. It’s more about who would have the resources to pull it off. So we’ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n Are you excited for Good Boy? Let us know in the comments!<\/p>\n<\/a>Indy the Good Boy<\/p>\n