In Netflix’s Dog Gone, actor, producer, and podcast host Rob Lowe performs John Marshall, a father who finds himself on an “epic quest” when his household canine turns up lacking. Inspired by a real story, Dog Gone tells the heartwarming and miraculous story of a father and his son who start a journey throughout the Appalachian path searching for Gonker, the household canine.
Along the best way, they start to fix their tense relationship, sharing a hope that they’ll have the ability to observe their misplaced canine down, towards all odds. When their story will get picked up by a neighborhood columnist, and finally goes worldwide, their dedication touches these round them, inspiring others to help their mission to convey Gonker house. Dog Gone additionally stars Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Johnny Berchtold, Susan Gallagher, and Al Mitchell.
With this family-friendly journey now out there to stream on Netflix, Collider’s Steve Weintraub was in a position to converse with Lowe in regards to the film. During his interview, Lowe discusses what drew him to the script for Dog Gone, how troublesome it’s to hit the “bullseye” on feel-good films, and what it was like working with the Daniel Day-Lewis of canine. He additionally talks about his podcast Literally!, why Saturday Night Live is vital to his profession, how streaming has affected films and tv, Tommy Boy, and which of his roles was the toughest to let go. For all of this and extra, you may try the video within the participant above, or learn the total transcript beneath.
COLLIDER: So you could have a podcast known as Literally! and you have needed to e book company, and I’m simply curious, who made you’re employed the toughest to get them in your podcast?
ROB LOWE: Very good query. Very good. Well, those who’re making me work the toughest are those who’re nonetheless not on the podcast. I’ve been chasing Bruce Springsteen, however you realize what? I’m going to present it as much as Howard Stern. He bought Bruce. They’re both actually, actually, actually troublesome, or they’re actually, actually, actually… Robert Downey Jr’s proving very troublesome, and he is an previous good friend. I’m going to should have stern phrases with him once I get him on the podcast. Look, Iron Man proper behind you. You have an Iron Man. Yeah, it is Robert Downey Jr. Let’s go together with that reply. Most troublesome.
I’ll say that Howard Stern is an incredible interviewer, however I’m going to say that he will get to cheat as a result of he will get like 5 hours with folks. I’m joking in regards to the time. He’s so good at his job, however he additionally will get a lot time with folks.
LOWE: He does, and in idea we now have as a lot as we would like. We do not do this a lot. I discover that about 43 minutes to an hour are the candy spot for our interviews, I feel.
I agree with you. You have had an incredible profession in Hollywood, but when somebody has by no means seen something you have achieved, what’s the very first thing you need them watching, and why?
LOWE: Depends on how previous they’re. If they’re tremendous younger, and I’m tremendous blessed to have followers of all ages, so youngsters ought to watch The Outsiders. But if you are going to watch The Outsiders, ensure it is The Outsiders: The Complete Novel, not The Outsiders. College-age people ought to watch Parks and Recreation. If it is date evening, it is best to watch About Last Night film. If you are in for a thriller, watch Bad Influence, and bought to look at The West Wing. Got to look at Tommy Boy.
Of course. This is what I’m speaking about. When I used to be given the prospect to speak with you, I’m like, “Of course I’m going to f’in do that.” You’ve been in so many issues that I really like, however one other factor is that it is extremely laborious for anybody to be in a single profitable present in Hollywood, and but you have been in just a few. Parks and Rec, West Wing as you talked about, lately 9-1-1: Lone Star. What is it like? Have you ever considered taking part in the lottery? Because it is actually laborious to do what you are doing.
LOWE: I really feel like I’ve been taking part in the lottery, and doing okay. Yeah, I’m so lucky. I do not know for those who would have informed me once I began out as a younger actor that it could end up the best way it has, I’d’ve believed it. I’m simply tremendous grateful, and I feel a whole lot of it’s I’ve a superb picker. I feel I do know a superb story once I learn it. I attempt to work with individuals who I like. You’re all the time going to be humorous once you’re with Amy Pohler, or Chris Farley, or David Spade, and also you’re all the time going to make a superb drama once you’re working with Ryan Murphy and Tim Minear. So, it is a mixture of issues and there is additionally somewhat little bit of luck.
Oh no, utterly. I’ve had this dialog with folks. People do not understand you may have an incredible script and it would not work on the display, and different occasions you might need one thing that is solely okay, and rapidly it is this wonderful film.
LOWE: You completely by no means know. You by no means know. You know when you could have one thing good, however in some way you may fumble the bag as the youngsters prefer to say. We knew making West Wing we have been making one thing particular. When we have been making Tommy Boy, we had no concept that it could grow to be what it is grow to be.
I had a dialog with Jonah Hill the opposite day, who I feel is an incredible actor and tremendous humorous, and I used to be like, “Tell me what films you want.” He’s like, “Well, my favourite film of all time is Tommy Boy.” I stated, “Ha ha ha, that is very nice.” He goes, “No. My favourite film of all time is Tommy Boy.” I used to be like, “Wait a minute. You labored with Martin Scorsese. You’re telling me Tommy Boy is your favourite?” You simply by no means know.
It additionally could possibly be when he watched it in his life, might need been a kind of issues.
LOWE: Yeah, for positive. It’s all the time about what you see and once you see it. That’s a giant factor. You’re completely proper.
Jumping into why I get to speak to you at this time, what was it about [Dog Gone’s] story and script that stated, I wish to do it in addition to getting paid to play with a canine?
LOWE: Well, being paid to play with a canine is a good way to run your profession. Let’s simply be actual. I do know actors who choose their films– Adam Sandler picked his… He was like, “Where do I desire a trip? I’m going to set my film there.” So, that form of stuff goes into it.
But actually, I really like a superb canine film. I really like a tear-jerker. I really like a film that is going to make you cry, simply as a film-goer. The father/son dynamic will get me each time, whether or not it is on the tremendous severe Ordinary People, or Great Santini, or one thing like this, [there’s] one thing about households that I actually reply to. This had all three of them.
Also, there’s one thing good to be making one thing life-affirming and heartwarming. Everyone enjoys these sorts of movies.
LOWE: For positive, and so they’re tremendous laborious to do. To hit that bullseye of feel-good is admittedly, actually laborious to do, and this film I feel actually does it. It’s one thing all people can watch. To sit with any age group, folks from any stroll of life, and all people goes to have the identical response is admittedly, actually uncommon. I’ve seen how folks react to this film, and it simply delivers. I feel largely it is as a result of the canine is so nice. He’s a terrific actor. He’s the Daniel Day-Lewis of canine actors.
When I consider canine films. I simply consider John Wick 3 with Halle Berry and the canine and what they did. Completely completely different performing, clearly.
LOWE: Very completely different. That’s extra stunt performing, however that is extra emotive. It’s my left paw.
It’s excellent. The film’s clearly taking part in on Netflix. Is it good to not have to fret in regards to the opening weekend field workplace?
LOWE: Yeah. Listen, I really like that there is not that form of strain on a film, on any film. I really like being on Netflix for that cause. Everybody’s going to see it. Everybody watches Netflix. Everybody’s going to see it and you realize that, and that is nice. I’m tremendous excited. It’s an ideal house for this.
I completely agree. Are you a canine or a cat particular person, and has it modified by means of your life?
LOWE: It has modified by means of my life. I began as a cat particular person. I had two cats, after which my first son was Class 5 allergy symptoms to cats. So, that was the top of cats. Then we bought canine, and we have all the time had canine ever since. I’ve 4 canine proper now. I’ve Daisy, Oscar, Owen, and Bella.
Who is the one which begs essentially the most on the desk for meals?
LOWE: All of them, however all of them have completely different types. They notice that not all of them can simply blatantly beg. I’ve one which form of poses within the nook in hopes that you will discover. I’ve one which hits me with the paw, and I’ve one which sits a superb little canine. So, all of them have their completely different acts, however all of them simply need the bacon.
Because of my schedule, we now have cats, and it’s fascinating how every one begs a unique approach.
LOWE: Yeah, for positive. Cats are the very best. They’re like, “I love you. Maybe I don’t love you.” They give love, after which they withhold love, and it’s totally compelling.
Without a doubt. You’ve achieved so many alternative roles. I’m going to leap backwards, really. When did you assume that you would make it as an actor and pay lease with simply performing?
LOWE: Well, I used to be tremendous fortunate that I by no means needed to face that as a result of I began performing once I was dwelling at house. That’s a giant factor. It’s to not be neglected. It’s a giant deal for actors to go, “Can I assist myself?” I by no means had to try this as a result of I began performing professionally at 13. So, I used to be bringing in cash whereas I had a roof over my head, though I did have a interval from 15 to 18 the place I did not work. I believed I used to be going to be a flash within the pan, and I had to determine what I used to be going to do with my life. I made a decision I used to be going to go to legislation faculty, and I utilized to varsity, and I did all these issues. On my 18th birthday I bought The Outsiders, and so the remainder was historical past.
Definitely have to the touch on Wayne’s World and the way that got here in your life, as a result of that was a giant function for you on the time.
LOWE: Oh yeah. I grew up watching Saturday Night Live. Everything I knew about comedy I discovered from SNL. I bought to host it 3 times, and it was my relationship with Lorne Michaels by means of internet hosting that bought me in Wayne’s World, as a result of Mike [Myers] and Dana [Carvey] had by no means achieved a film. Mike and Dana did not even know that there have been marks on the ground that you simply stood, so the digital camera may document you as a result of they do not have these on SNL. They have been actually inexperienced. So I keep in mind Lorne saying to have anyone who knew what a film was was going to be vital. Then that began my relationship with Mike, and that led to, in fact, the Austin Powers films. Then my continued relationship with Lorne led to Tommy Boy. So, that little SNL nook of my profession is one thing I’m actually pleased with as a result of I really like simply being part of that legacy, even within the small half that I’m.
If somebody has by no means seen your episodes of SNL, is there one sketch you’re notably pleased with?
LOWE: Yeah, I feel once I play Arsenio Beckman is fairly humorous. I really like that one. Geez. There’s the church girl one, “Sprockets.” I keep in mind assembly Mike Myers and him going, “Do you wish to do “Wayne’s World,” or do you wish to do ‘Sprockets’?” I used to be like, “I wish to do ‘Sprockets’” as a result of it was simply so bizarre. But they have been all actually good. I’m tremendous pleased with these SNLs. Sometimes you simply get fortunate, and people are three actually robust episodes.
You’ve clearly achieved, once more, many, many roles. What do you assume was the toughest one that you simply prepped for? What was essentially the most you prepped for considered one of your roles, and which function was the toughest so that you can let go of after filming wrapped?
LOWE: For positive the toughest was Stephen King’s The Stand. I performed Nick Andros, who cannot hear, cannot converse. I needed to be taught American Sign Language. Because I had no dialogue in all the miniseries, you have to discover… It simply required a whole lot of work. That, for positive, was the toughest.
I feel letting go once I was achieved, there are characters you wish to simply… I want I could possibly be Eddie Nero from Californication in my actual life. I simply love that character a lot as a result of it is so outrageous, however I additionally assume Chris Traeger in Parks and Rec is similar to me and I can really feel myself falling into my Chris Traeger patter once in a while. I actually can really feel it taking place.
I positively wish to contact on Parks and Rec as a result of I really like that present. Because when it was on, it was standard, but it surely wasn’t the best way… It grew to become extra [popular] with streaming. Have you observed the ability of streaming with that present particularly?
LOWE: Oh, in Parks and Rec for positive. It was by no means successful, and it is grow to be what it is grow to be as a result of folks caught up with it due to streaming. If streaming wasn’t round, Parks and Rec wouldn’t be what it’s at this time. But even The West Wing, which clearly was successful, continues to have an viewers at this time that weren’t even alive when it got here out due to streaming. So, I really like streaming as a result of it was once for those who did one thing that you simply favored, it was gone ceaselessly. If you did not have the DVD or VHS, you have been out of luck. Now you would discover virtually something.
I did a present known as The Grinder that’s my favourite comedy I’ve ever been in. I’m going to say it once more. The Grinder. My favourite comedy I’ve ever been in. One season on Fox and was achieved, however you may get it on, I feel, Hulu, and I really like that individuals can nonetheless discover it. Streaming’s nice for that.
Dog Gone is now out there to stream on Netflix.