Walking the Dog

The film opens with Kristie Simmons, a pro-bono-focused lawyer, petitioning the county court for a bike lane in Bradley Beach to improve community safety. Simultaneously, she agrees to foster a dog named Gidget, an 'escape artist' from a local rescue. While walking Gidget, Kristie meets Keith and his dog, Simon. The dogs are instantly inseparable, but the human interaction is cut short when Keith reveals he is the new Town Attorney hired to block Kristie's bike lane. In court, Keith mocks Kristie's petition by suggesting the town would eventually need 'power-walking lanes' or 'skating lanes,' earning Kristie's ire. Despite this, Keith suggests they 'reboot' their relationship with a professional coffee chat, citing their shared history as locals who moved away and returned. As the story progresses, a subplot involves Kristie's mother, Barb, receiving anonymous gifts at her cafe, including bear claws and roses. Kristie is currently dating Bill, the local veterinarian, but their relationship lacks passion. The tension between Kristie and Keith escalates when Keith's law firm associate, Laura, arrives from Seattle to pressure Keith into fast-tracking a lucrative condo development on the Pittman property, a beloved local nature preserve. Kristie assumes Laura is Keith's girlfriend, leading to jealousy. At a Bar Association dance, Kristie encounters her ex-boyfriend Jeff, who previously broke her heart in Chicago. Keith intervenes, pretending to be her dance partner to save her from the awkward encounter. This night serves as a turning point, leading Kristie and Bill to realize they are better off as friends and break up amicably. The conflict reaches a climax when a local newspaper reports that Keith is siding with the developers to destroy the Pittman property. Feeling betrayed, Kristie cancels their upcoming date. However, Keith reveals his integrity by quitting his high-powered firm and secretly arranging for Kristie to present the opposition's case directly to the town board. In a final hearing, Keith presents the logistical hurdles of the development while Kristie delivers a moving speech about the 'heart of the community.' The board votes to table the development, effectively saving the land. The film concludes on Valentine's Day with Kristie officially adopting Gidget, Barb discovering her secret admirer is Dan the realtor, and Keith revealing he is staying in Bradley Beach to start a legal partnership—and a romantic one—with Kristie.