Ridley Scott knows how to make a movie. The Dog Stars is visually stunning, beautifully shot and filled with talented performers including Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce and Allison Janney. But is exceptional filmmaking enough when the story never quite makes you care?

In this episode of Movies I Give a Fork About, AJ looks at Scott’s post-apocalyptic adaptation of Peter Heller’s novel and the frustrating gap between appreciating a movie’s craftsmanship and actually connecting with it.

There are compelling ideas here about grief, isolation, survival and the human need for connection after almost everything meaningful has disappeared. There are also spectacular landscapes, visceral violence and moments of genuine tension. But AJ questions whether the film spends enough time exploring its most interesting idea: when the world as you knew it is gone, is simply staying alive enough?

She also looks at Jacob Elordi’s performance, wonders about the very different film Paul Mescal might have made in the role, and takes issue with one filmmaking choice involving Margaret Qualley that feels disappointingly dated.

A beautifully made movie from one of cinema’s legendary directors — but does The Dog Stars give audiences enough reason to give a fork?

🍴 Movies I Give a Fork About

Movies don’t get stars — they get forks.

Hosted by AJ Jones, this podcast cuts through hype, marketing, and awards buzz to answer one simple question:

Is this movie actually worth your time?

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New episodes drop when a movie earns a fork.