(Credit: Netflix)

We should start calling Netflix Santa at this point because of the number of surprises it brings us every week.

Netflix’s top ten gives us a weekly chart of its most unpredictable movie and series rankings, and looking to the global movie charts, right now, the one steadily trekking up is The Art of Racing in the Rain.

This six-year-old film is sitting at number five globally with more than four million views this week. Not bad for a film that, especially when it was released in cinemas back in 2019, didn’t exactly light the box office on fire, even after belonging to one of the most liked genres out there: a sports comedy. Lucky for you, streaming has a way of giving second chances, and this one has clearly found its audience.

At first glance, you might think it’s just another dog movie. And not gonna lie, technically, it is. The whole thing is narrated by a golden retriever named Enzo, who is voiced by Kevin Costner. But don’t roll your eyes just yet, as this isn’t your “cute dog saves the day” kind of story. Enzo believes that good dogs get reincarnated as humans, and through his eyes, we watch the life of his owner, Denny. This guy is a race-car driver who is as obsessed with the track as he is loyal to his family.

The story zigzags through the big highs and lows of Denny’s and Enzo’s life, where the former wants to pursue his racing career while struggling in his marriage to Amanda Seyfried’s Eve. Most importantly, he is worried about the legal battles that threaten to tear everything apart, especially in the case of his daughter Zoë.

But if you are watching the film expecting that a dog narration will tone the grief down, then you’re wrong. The film never hides the darker corners, be it illness, grief, or the everyday hustle of trying to hold on to your dreams when everything around you is pulling the other way.

If you ask us, the real MVP of the film is Costner’s narration, which, honestly, shouldn’t be a surprise. Who thought a dog musing about Formula One would feel philosophical instead of silly? And Milo Ventimiglia, who most people know as Jack Pearson from This Is Us, brings that same understated warmth to Denny. It’s better to say that he complements Kostner’s narration.

If you are not a fan of films that drown you in manipulative strings or endless monologues, this one should be a walk in the park. The laughs exactly when you need them, especially with Enzo’s dry commentary but is introspective and sensitive enough to sit you down and ugly sob into the pillow.

So yes, if you haven’t watched The Art of Racing in the Rain, it’s time that you bypass the watchlist and click play on one of the most-watched titles on Netflix right now.