Bright Side: Bring The Tissues For Brad Pitt’s New Movie

Welcome to the Bright Side, a weekly roundup of all the good news and ideas you might have missed from the past week.

Watching dog movies when you own a dog

Brad Pitt’s new movie hit theaters this week. In “Heart of the Beast,” he co-stars with a German Shepherd named Uber as the film’s hero pup, Odin. It’s a story about a Special Forces vet and his four-legged companion in combat. And just seeing Odin as a wobbly puppy soldier-in-training in the trailer got me misty-eyed. Recognize the feeling? I had no idea this was a dealbreaker for lots of movie-going dog owners, too. 

Apparently, many of us who consider our dogs to be members of our families are wary about watching movies about them — even though we’re the target audience. Someone posted to Reddit, “I cannot and will not watch a movie that has a dog in it. I’m too scared that something will happen to the dog. The last movie I watched was ‘Marley and Me’ (coz I just thought it was about a mischievous pup that always got into trouble … I was wrong). I bawled for an hour (at least) after watching it.” 

For the record, something almost always happens to the dog. It doesn’t have to end with the rainbow bridge in the sky; it’s hard for me even to watch a dog stub its pinky toe on a squeaky toy. Who isn’t picturing their own pup when he was just a “kid” (as my boyfriend accidentally called our dog one time). Still, as Brad Pitt’s character describes it, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight that matters. It’s the size of the fight in the dog.” Pass the tissues.

Still hearing the music

They used to be a big deal in the early 2000s during the era of Britney’s “Oops! … I Did It Again” and Eminem’s flashmob of hundreds of dudes in white muscle tanks for “The Real Slim Shady.” But now the MTV Video Music Awards happen without much comment. And other than Madonna’s unsurprisingly provocative appearance, and Snoop Dogg’s gig as host of the whole thing, no one really noticed. 

We may be too saturated with options and algorithms to agree on the most popular song on the charts right now, but the zeitgeist isn’t completely broken; those nineties oldies still hit. Please see the return of Prodigy’s hit “Firestarter” from 1996 in one of the most under-the-radar iterations ever: the lunch lady version.

 

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A post shared by Esha ???? (@breakroom.chronicles)

The sketch comes from the comedy duo behind “Breakroom Chronicles,” Linisha Smith and Melissa Turner, who make the room with the snack machine feel like the afterparty. If you need a refresher on why the lettuce would ever be perched in someone’s hair like that, go here.

Billion-dollar creature comforts

We didn’t forget our “purry” pets! While some dogs are out there on the front lines, cats have been building an industry around their own freedom. They got their Fancy Feast, and now they want an outdoor space to call home. A portmanteau for cat patio, the modern “catio” is now officially a thing. A really big thing. 

Kind of like a hybrid between a backyard chicken coop and a McDonald’s PlayPlace, the elaborate kitty-friendly structures feature ladders, textured platforms, lookouts, dark corners for sleeping, ropes and fabrics for scratching, and trees and plants for chewing — I mean, enjoying. It’s all safely “screened-in,” offering little Fluffy some fresh air and a taste of independence, no wilderness survival skills needed. 

 

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The concept is so popular, the industry is set to hit $2.16 billion in the next few years. With 53 million American households including at least one cat, catio builder Cynthia Chomos says, “There’s no greater joy than seeing your cat outdoors in a catio with the wind in the whiskers and bird-watching.” Who wouldn’t want to feel the breeze in their whiskers?

A “ber” month to remember

October is officially here, and with our second in the lineup of “ber” months, I’m feeling extra pumpkin-y. It helps that there’s a dump truck’s worth of Halloween candy at the checkout of every store and harvest arrangements popping up around the neighborhood. But even though we just hit another heat wave, I’m focusing on festivity. It’s “ber” not “brrr!” That will come soon enough.

Most of us think of this month as the coziest of the year, which makes sense, considering we’ll be celebrating national homemade cookie day, pumpkin spice day, cinnamon bun day, and pumpkin seed day, among others. We only get this season once a year, and I’m making the most of it. 

If you’re carving a pumpkin for the porch or to hold drinks for a party, save the seeds! Along with providing protein and healthy fats, roasted pumpkin seeds stay crunchy and flavorful with a little salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika (everything bagel seasoning works too). For kids (or their parents!), pumpkin fluff dip takes five minutes and turns canned pumpkin purée, instant vanilla pudding mix, pumpkin pie spice, and Cool Whip into the perfect accompaniment for fresh apple or pear wedges, apple chips, pretzels, or ginger snaps. Or just a spoon. Bon appétit. 

@allrecipes In need of an easy Thanksgiving dessert? Look no further than ✨Pumpkin Fluff✨ Continue reading or head to the link in the @allrecipes bio for the full recipe! ???? Ingredients: 1 (15-ounce) can solid pack pumpkin 1 (5-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 (16-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed Directions: Gather all ingredients. Mix pumpkin, pudding mix, and pumpkin pie spice together in a large bowl. Fold in whipped topping. Cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. ????‍????: Annie Campbell #pumpkin #fluff #dessert #thanksgiving #easydessert ♬ original sound – Allrecipes

One more thing: If you followed Fat Bear Week with us, the grand champ chonkiest bear this year is Backpack! While he’s technically a nepo baby since his mom Holly won in 2019, we think he’s a self-made salmon-eating influencer. My favorite reader comment was from Chauncer, who shared this tidbit about Alaska’s hibernating bears: “In the spring when they wake up, they hit the skunk cabbage salad bar which is ‘Nature’s Ex-Lax.’ Then they feel much more relieved … but watch out where you step. Answers the age-old philosophical question: Does a bear sh*t in the woods?” Email me, share with a friend, or join the party in the comments. Have a great weekend! — Lauren

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