This is probably my most favorite love story. I never get tired of watching.

Dog Fight is a charming little movie, surprisingly sensitive for such an ugly subject. Eddie Birdlace (River Phoenix) is a young marine who will soon be shipping out to Viet Nam. A marine tradition is to have a dog fight, a contest to see who can get the ugliest girl to come to a party. Eddie asks Rose (Lili Taylor) but then regrets it when he starts to like her. While in the Ladies Room she overhears that she is in a dog fight, and tells him off, trying to salvage what little dignity remains. He follows her home, and in spite of getting off on the wrong foot, convinces her to go out with him. He is a young and callow jerk, but she refuses to be mistreated. There is a funny scene in a restaurant where she gives as good as she gets to drive home her point that he swears too much. Can't print the quote, but you get the idea.

The movie takes place in 1963, and the two characters mirror the schism that was tearing our country apart. She is much more politically aware, if perhaps a bit too idealistic and naive. She is listening to Joan Baez and such.

I just read up on River Phoenix, and he was a remarkable man. He died tragically of a drug overdose outside Johnny Depp's Viper Room on Sunset Blvd. He was brought up by an unusual family who belonged to a religious cult, but perhaps could better be described as hippies. River had numerous friends who were really shaken by his death. They are actors and directors, and many musicians from all over the world. I mention this merely because to see him in Dog Fight, he really becomes a young gung ho marine with little idea of what Viet Nam has in store for him.

Lili Taylor has carved out quite a career for herself playing the kind of deep, brooding artists that may not be the cutest but are certainly the most profound girls in the room. She is married to a poet, Nicky Flynn, who navigates between the worlds of theater and poetry effortlessly. He seems perfect for her, and I wish them both much happiness.

River Phoenix

Sneakers (1992) .... Carl Arbegast was portrayed by River Phoenix.
My Own Private Idaho (1991) .... Mike Waters was one of River's best roles, and he became very close friends with both Keanu Reeves and director Gus Van Zant.
Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade - Widescreen Edition (1989) .... After playing Young Indy he became very close friends with Harrison Ford.
Running on Empty (1988) .... Danny Pope/Michael Manfield were played by River, and he was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
The Mosquito Coast (1986) .... Charlie Fox was played by River in another award winning performance.
Stand By Me (Special Edition) (1986) .... Chris Chambers was played by River in another award winning performance.

Lili Taylor

The Notorious Bettie Page (2005) .... Paula Klaw is the wife of Irving Klaw, fetish photographer of the notorious Bettie Page.
Factotum (2005) .... Jan was a different kind of role for Lili. She played the low class girlfriend of Hank Chiniski, alter ego of poet Charles Bukowski.
High Fidelity (2000) .... Sarah Kendrew was an ex girlfriend of John Cusack's record shop owner.
Pecker (1998) .... Rorey Wheeler is an art gallery owner in Manhattan who discovers naive photographer Pecker in this film by John Waters.

It would not be cliche to say Hollywood does not make movies like Dogfight anymore. The classic starring River Pheonix as the Vietnam-era Marine participating in a regular contest among members of his platoon to nap the "dog" or absolute ugliest girl they can find. In the process, Pheonix finds Rose (Lili Taylor) in a run-of-the-mill San Francisco diner and invites her to the dance. The unassuming Rose has no idea what she has gotten herself into. Even upon entering a club filled with some of the most unattractive women ever to hit the big screen, she is just happy to be out of diner which also doubles as her home.

Of course, Rose discovers the true nature of the date and River Pheonix falls in love with her just one day before he is off to become one of Kennedy's young 'advisors' in Vietnam. The story is sweet, funny and the acting far-and-above any of the routine genre films that cater to women and teens. Dogfight boasts an excellent soundtrack that includes Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. This little-noticed gem from 1991 is the perfect date movie.

From the opening scene, you can tell that this isn't going to be a stereotypical war/romance movie. "Dogfight" is the story of Birdlace (River Phoenix), who is a Marine, and his friends who have a game called the dogfight. Whoever gets the ugliest date gets the money they all bet. He meets Rose, played by Lili Taylor.

That night, it goes from being a bet to truly enjoying eachother. The thing is, he leaves the next day for Vietnam.

River Phoenix is absolutely great. He was such a versatile actor, and would have been one of the best. Lili Taylor is adorable as the ugly duckling. All of the supporting cast is great.

I highly recommend this. It'll stay with you for longer than you imagine!

I watched this movie a million times and made my mom watch this movie with me the other day. I told her that it was a highly underrated movie and she began watching it with the assumption it was a crappy one. She asked me 'what is so good about a movie revolving around guys finding ugly girls for a dogfight' I told her it was a romantic movie for a reason and that only 1/4 of the movie was based around the dogfight.

We watched and my mom became so intrigued. She smiled and laughed, she thought the awkward kiss was awkward and charming. When Eddie comes back from Vietnam she comments on how different he looks and at the end with that heartbreaking hug she just stared. After the movie she said that this movie was very nice and not what she thought.

Eddie (River Phoenix) is a marine about to be shipped off to Vietnam, he's naive in his own way, he curses every other word and thinks that he is ready for what's to come. Him and his buddies stage a dogfight and have to find an ugly date to take and see if they win. Eddie isn't having luck and stumbles into a cafe and spots Rose (Lili Taylor). He charms and b.s's her to come along. The dogfight begins and Eddie has second thoughts about the whole thing. Rose finds out about the dogfight and Eddie tries to redeem himself by taking her out. What ensues is awkward yet charming and lovely to watch. He comes back a torn soldier, using guns to try and solve problems, which leads you back to think of the conversation they had that one night. The ending is bittersweet, makes you want to cry and smile. No words were necessary for this scene although you almost wish there were. The painful look in Eddie's eyes and the understanding look in Roses' is enough.

This movie needs to be re-released because it didn't get the credit it deserved what so ever. The acting, even with the smaller characters, was top notch and both River and Lili gave so much dimension to the people they were playing. I love the naiveness of Rose's character, she is so aware but still so naive and hopeful.

All the movies i watched with River he always blew my mind at the potential. I believed he was those people, it's very rare for an actor to be able to play so many different types of characters without people comparing them. You forgot about him being River Phoenix you just thought of his character on screen.

I recommend this movie to everyone. It's a chick type of movie but I believe any guy would enjoy this as well due to the crude humor and such.