My Boyfriends' Dogs

6.0/10 · 1,674 ratings20141h 26mWeirdness 3/10Bingo card

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The premise

The owners of a small diner are surprised one rainy evening when, just after close, a young woman wearing a wedding dress--with three dogs in tow--begs to come into their restaurant. What follows is the young woman's retelling of how she arrived at this curious junction in her life and how, through the search for the right man, she ended up as a runaway bride with three new dogs.

How unusual is it?

Honestly? Not very — and that's the charm. It plays the hits, which is exactly the point for a cozy night in.

Who’s in it

Behind the camera

Show

Wait, what?

The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.

  • The protagonist literally collects dogs from her ex-boyfriends like trophies of failed relationships.
  • A significant plot point involves the protagonist forcing herself to read all seven volumes of Proust to impress a man.
  • The framing device of a woman in a wedding dress with three dogs in a diner is more dramatic than typical Hallmark setups.
  • The protagonist names the third dog 'Shirley' specifically because it was the name of her fiancé's mother's late sister, which the mother finds offensive.

Every trope, all in one place

Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 23 to find more movies that do the same thing.

How it all plays out

Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.

Full story (spoilers)
The film opens on a rainy night as Bailey Daley bursts into a diner after hours, soaking wet in a wedding dress and accompanied by three dogs: Adam, Eve, and Shirley. The owners, Louie and Nikki, allow her to stay and listen as she recounts the story of how she ended up a runaway bride. Bailey's journey begins after the death of her beloved beagle, Howie, and her purchase of a new home. Feeling a void, she begins dating Wade, a substitute gym teacher. Despite not being an athlete, Bailey pushes herself to run 5Ks and participate in his active lifestyle. When Wade decides to move to Seattle with another woman, he leaves his dog, Adam, in Bailey's care. Next, Bailey meets Jonathan, a pretentious and self-absorbed playwright. To impress him, she pretends to be a fan of complex jazz and struggles to read Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time.' Their relationship is defined by Bailey's attempts to match his intellectualism, but Jonathan's ego and lack of interest in her life lead to a mutual breakup. Bailey ends up fostering and eventually keeping his dog, Eve, who was more attached to Bailey than to Jonathan. Finally, Bailey meets Eric Strang, the wealthy heir to a fashion salon empire. Eric is polished and successful, but he is also a rigid perfectionist who dislikes the messiness of dogs. Despite this, he proposes to Bailey, and she accepts, swept up in the idea of a 'perfect' man. However, as the wedding approaches, Eric's mother takes over the planning, and Eric insists on training or leashing Bailey's dogs, showing a lack of appreciation for her true nature. At the altar, Bailey realizes she is trying to be someone she isn't and tells Eric 'no,' fleeing the ceremony with all three dogs. Back in the diner, the story concludes as Cole, the owner of the local pet store where Bailey has frequently visited, is revealed to be a regular customer. Cole confesses he has had a crush on Bailey since they met but never intervened because she was always with someone else. Bailey realizes that Cole is the only man who has ever loved her and her dogs unconditionally. The film ends with Bailey and Cole walking into the night together, finally starting a relationship based on authenticity.

Beat by beat

  1. Opening

    Bailey arrives at a diner in a wedding dress with three dogs, beginning the framing narrative of her story.

  2. Early-Point

    Bailey dates Wade, an athlete, and adopts his dog Adam after Wade moves away with another woman.

  3. Midpoint

    Bailey dates Jonathan, a pretentious playwright, and inherits his dog Eve after their relationship fails due to his narcissism.

  4. Late-Point

    Bailey becomes engaged to Eric, a wealthy heir, but realizes he doesn't actually like dogs or her authentic self.

  5. Climax

    Bailey leaves Eric at the altar during the wedding ceremony, realizing she cannot marry someone who wants her to change.

  6. Resolution

    In the diner, Bailey reconnects with Cole, the pet store owner, who reveals his long-standing feelings for her.

23 tropes in one movie

We counted 23 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.

The backstory

My Boyfriends' Dogs is a 2014 American made-for-television comedy film directed by Terry Ingram, written by Jon Maas and Gary Goldstein, and based on the Dandi Daley Mackall novel of the same name. The film stars Erika Christensen as Bailey Daley, with Teryl Rothery, Emily Holmes, Jeremy Guilbaut, Joyce DeWitt, and Michael Kopsa.
From Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

How it stacks up

Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.

Rating 6.0 vs every rated Hallmark moviemedian 6.4This movie · 6.0567

Higher-rated than 15% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.

Where this one fits

The corners of the catalog My Boyfriends' Dogs belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.

Lines worth quoting

The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.

  • “If you can find a man who can love you like a dog, you will have found true love.”
    — Dina (Bailey's Mom)Giving Bailey advice on what to look for in a partner.
  • “I can't find the right man by trying to be the right woman for him. I just have to be true to myself.”
    — Bailey DaleyExplaining her realization at the diner.
  • “I'm an English teacher and my boyfriend is a terrible playwright. It's deeply awkward and ironic.”
    — Bailey DaleyDiscussing her relationship with Jonathan with her friend Amber.

Meet the characters

Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.

  • Bailey Daley

    Lead

    High School English Teacher

    Kind-heartedDog-loverPeople-pleaserLiterary
  • Cole

    Love interest

    Pet Store Owner

    Final love interest and soulmate

    PatientObservantGenuineAnimal-lover
  • Eric Strang

    Antagonist

    Retail Executive

    Fiancé and source of dog #3 (Shirley)

    PerfectionistControllingWealthyDislikes dogs
  • Wade Ingram

    Supporting

    Substitute Gym Teacher

    First boyfriend and source of dog #1 (Adam)

    AthleticFlirtyNon-committal
  • Jonathan Mitchell

    Supporting

    Playwright

    Second boyfriend and source of dog #2 (Eve)

    PretentiousSelf-absorbedIntellectual

Questions people ask about My Boyfriends' Dogs

Where can I watch My Boyfriends' Dogs?

My Boyfriends' Dogs is available via fuboTV, Philo, and Hallmark+ Amazon Channel. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.

How long is My Boyfriends' Dogs?

My Boyfriends' Dogs runs about 1 hour and 26 minutes, and was released in 2014.

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Data and sources

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Sources:IMDbTMDBWikipedia