I don't cry at movies unless an animal is badly hurt or dies. Occasionally something else will make me sniffle a little, but normally it's animals in trouble that hits me hard. So I'm greeting the news of a film version of Garth Stein's bestseller The Art of Racing in the Rain with mixed emotions. Love the book, love the story, and Patrick Dempsey (Enchanted) in the lead is a bit of perfect casting.

Dempsey's other passion - besides acting - is racing cars, and Denny Swift, the main character in The Art of Racing in the Rain, is a mechanic/race car driver. Dempsey fits the role perfectly on paper. But do I really want to see a film that's guaranteed to make me cry? Sure, I'll just remember to bring a box of tissues with me to the theater.

You don't have to be an animal lover or a racing fan to get into the story. The Art of Racing in the Rain is told through the eyes of Enzo, a lab mix who watches TV, loves the weather channel, and is as much into car racing as his human dad. Enzo's one of the most enchanting narrators ever and it'll be interesting to see how they handle telling this tale from his point of view.

Universal Pictures snatched up the film rights and Variety reports Dempsey will produce the film along with Neal Moritz and Joanie Burstein.
_{(Photo © Richard Chavez)}