It was theatrically released on August 9, 2019 by 20th Century Fox. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed over $33 million worldwide.
Plot
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. Denny picks him up, promising to always be there for him. Enzo recalls hearing of a Mongolian belief that the best dogs get to reincarnate into men. Enzo knows he is not long for this world, but he hopes to find Denny again in another life.
Years prior, Denny adopts a young Enzo after a sports car race. They immediately bond, with Denny naming him after Enzo Ferrari. Denny divides his time between teaching, auto racing, and caring for Enzo. Denny dreams of racing in Formula One, and is struggling to support himself driving for IMSA teams. A year later, Denny meets Eve, they hit it off and, although Enzo disapproves, Denny invites her out and they begin dating. Their relationship grows quickly, which Enzo envies, until one day Eve confides in him her love for Denny, which he accepts. They marry the following year at her parents' mansion. Eve's mother Trish is supportive, but her father Maxwell doesn't approve.
Shortly after, Eve becomes pregnant. 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. Eve insists that he go, as she believes it could be the start of better things in his career. Eve and Denny's child comes early, and Eve gives birth at home midway through the race as Enzo watches Denny on TV. When Enzo meets the couple’s newborn daughter Zoë, Eve tells her he will always protect her. Days later, when Denny meets Zoë, he discloses his team lost in the last stint, but hopes more races will come.
Eve’s parents visit more frequently, and Maxwell confronts Denny on the dangers of racing, as he is now a father. He swears to always put his safety first, even if he loses every race he enters. A few years pass and Enzo finds family life idyllic, while Denny spends prolonged periods away racing. He then tells Eve that he was invited to race at Laguna Seca, but is hesitant as he feels his career is stagnating. Enzo, witnessing this, is shocked that Denny is considering quitting racing. Eve falls seriously ill, which Enzo detects through a change in her scent. Eve is diagnosed with brain cancer, with she and Zoë living with her parents during her treatment. Resigned to her fate, Eve admits to Enzo that she doesn't fear death and passes away as he watches.
At Eve's funeral, Maxwell accuses Denny of putting his racing career ahead of his family and demands custody of Zoë, threatening to sue if Denny does not comply. Furious at his insinuation of negligence, Denny attempts to leave, but Maxwell grabs him and Denny shoves him away, causing Maxwell to fall and allegedly break a rib. Maxwell reports the incident to the police and Denny is arrested on an 4th-degree assault charge. If he loses the case, he faces three months incarceration plus permanent loss of custody of Zoë to his in-laws. Denny continues racing and is offered a job in Maranello, testing prototypes for Ferrari. He declines due to his court case, but promises he will accept if he wins.
A frustrated Denny goes jogging in the rain with Enzo. Not realizing he's falling behind, Enzo attempts to follow Denny across the street and is hit by a car. Denny rushes him to the vet, who explains he is lucky he survived, but may soon suffer from hip dysplasia.
Financially and emotionally exhausted, Denny signs an out-of-court settlement, giving up custody of Zoë for visitation and erasing the assault charge. However, Enzo grabs the legal document and destroys it, so Denny continues to fight. At the trial, Trish admits the truth and exonerates Denny. With the charges dropped, Denny accepts the Ferrari job. When Maxwell and Trish come to Zoë's ninth birthday party, Denny is very forgiving, wanting them in Zoë's life. Over the next few weeks, Enzo's health rapidly deteriorates. Realizing that his best friend is dying, Denny takes him around the track. Lamenting he will not be able to continue on caring for his family in Italy, Enzo accepts the good life he’s had and looks forward to his new life, reincarnated as a human.
Eight years later, Denny, now a successful Formula One driver for Scuderia Ferrari, lives in Italy with Zoë. After a practice session, a young fan with golden hair approaches Denny for an autograph and introduces himself as Enzo. Denny smiles, says the boy reminds him of an old friend and suggests he come back when he's ready to race.
In addition, in the final scene, Lily Dodsworth-Evans has a brief appearance as a 17-year-old Zoë and former Scuderia FerrariFormula One driver Giancarlo Fisichella is standing in the Ferrari garage.
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."[7]
The Art of Racing in the Rain grossed $26.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $7.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $33.8 million.[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.[13][14] The film made $3 million on its first day, including $450,000 from Thursday night previews. It ended up debuting to $8.1 million, finishing sixth at the box office.[2] It dropped 46% in its second weekend to $4.4 million, finishing in 10th.[15]
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 44% based on 120 reviews, and an average rating of 5.3/10. 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."[16] On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 43 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[17] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it an average 4.5 out of 5 stars and a 72% "definite recommend".[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. By the end I was crying like a baby, along with many of the other people in my screening, as well as giggling at the preposterousness of it all."[18] Peter Debruge of Variety wrote: "Granted, there aren't a lot of surprises in The Art of Racing in the Rain. If anything, knowing — or at least anticipating — how the film's myriad tragedies will unfold seems to heighten the effect."[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."[21]
