In a world populated only by animals, a lonely dog splurges on a sophisticated AI companion robot sometime in the ‘80s. They become close friends and everything’s great until the robot seizes up after a dip in the sea at Ocean Beach. It’s the last day of the season, and security is tight, so the two must remain separated until spring. They worry, they speculate, they dream. And they have terrifyingly fertile imaginations.

To say Pablo Berger’s movie wanders a bit would be an understatement. But there’s always a little surprise around the corner, a sight gag, a wink, and the plotlines realign. It belies its old-school animation by going deep and even exploring parallel universes. It constantly and gleefully confounds your expectations at every turn, in the sweetest ways. The tension ramps up steadily, and I absolutely loved what they did with the ending. And all without a single spoken word; no dialog at all.

This is simply a beautiful and wise little movie. One of the year’s best. Kids will dig it and even learn a few subtle life lessons. Adults will certainly identify with the film’s deeper nuances. (103 min)