Like many of you, I was super excited to hear that Todd Solondz is making a sequel to “Welcome To The Dollhouse” — and disappointed that Heather Matarazzo would not be reprising her role as Dawn Weiner.
But! As my dear friend Marc Felion of the Feast of Fun podcast informed me last night, the sequel’s plot is the exact same plot as my favorite Canadian TV show of all time, “The Littlest Hobo”! Which is a thing I’ve talked about on the podcast on several occasions, and even made them watch.
You see, this sequel – titled “Weiner-dog” – is not really about Dawn at all, but about an actual dachshund. And this is the plot:
“The film tells several stories featuring people who find their life inspired or changed by one particular dachshund, who seems to be spreading comfort and joy.”
As I mentioned, it is also the plot of “The Littlest Hobo” except that Hobo is a German shepherd, and in addition to spreading comfort and joy and love, he also solves crimes, rescues ballerinas from Communists (it was the ’80s, OK?) and stalks drunk drivers until they confess to their crimes.
One time, he even helped Mike Myers’ paraplegic friend win the big Frisbee tournament, even though his dad was all, “You’re in a wheelchair! Kids in wheelchairs can’t play Frisbee! And I hate dogs because you wouldn’t be paralyzed if I hadn’t swerved to avoid hitting one!”
In short, it is brilliant. There are episodes available on YouTube should you care to partake in the wonder.
I am not at all mad at this sequel, by the way. I am totally in favor of combining “Welcome to the Dollhouse” and “The Littlest Hobo.” In no way does this seem like a poor idea to me, and I think a dachshund – though probably unable to carry a rifle in its teeth – could probably be good at solving people’s problems also. Why not!
[Variety]Original by Robyn Pennacchia
