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One of the hardest parts about going to the theater is choosing a movie you can comfortably watch with your family. Thankfully, every few months Hollywood will release a sugary movie about love and laughter that’s specifically designed to be comfortably watched with your parents, children, and / or younger siblings. This winter’s addition to the genre is a tale about canine loyalty, A Dog’s Purpose.
Before its premiere, the heartwarming movie about one loyal dog being reincarnated has been haunted by accusations of on-set animal abuse and bad ratings (the movie currently has 33 percent on Rotten Tomatoes). Despite the controversy, the movie is likely going to be a decent money maker in the new year. Now is as good a time as any to dive into the voice behind this pet-focused story, Josh Gad. Though he’s best known for starring in Matt Stone and Trey Parker’s controversial and unsurprisingly vulgar play The Book of Mormon, Gad has started to make more of a name for himself by embracing the family-friendly side of comedy. Here’s your “meet cute” to the man behind the voices you likely already know.
21 (2008)
This drama about high-stakes blackjack is not exactly family-friendly, but it is a fairly fun watch as well as one of Gad’s first recognizable roles. Gad plays Miles Connoly, one of Ben’s (Jim Sturgess) friends. Also starring Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne, this movie certainly has its flaws, but if you’re looking for a cool movie about card counting, this is definitely an option.
Thanks for Sharing (2012)
This is another title not great for families, but stay with me because it shows an arthouse side to Gad. The comedy-drama also stars Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins, and Gwyneth Paltrow and focuses on a group of people involved in a 12-step process to recover from their sex addiction. Gad plays Neil, a doctor whose obsession with masturbation costs him his job. The actor and comedian serves as the pained comedic relief in this sad but funny film, and it’s a role that suits him well.
[Where to stream Thanks for Sharing]
1600 Penn (2012 – 2013)
Gad has had several one-season sitcoms throughout his career, but this one is perhaps the most relevant. The comedy follows the dysfunctional first family as they struggle to maintain some semblance of normalcy while running the country. Think of it as Veep meets Modern Family. Gad plays the president’s eldest and most entitled son, who is constantly a disappointment.
Frozen (2013)
If you have a child, I promise you you’ve heard Gad’s voice and that you can recognize this next role. In Disney’s latest fairy tale, Gad voices Olaf, the adorable living snowman who stands as Anna’s sidekick. Olaf allows Gad to showcases some of his Book of Mormon strengths, from his singing to his muted but optimistic awkwardness.
A Dog’s Purpose (2017)
In this latest feel-good film, Gad voices the titular dog, a loyal pet who goes through five reincarnations throughout the film. This is another role that allows Gad’s optimism to shine. If you have children who love dog’s there’s probably a good chance this is the voice that will be stuck in your head for weeks.
[A Dog’s Purpose is in theaters now.]
