The purposeful dog at hand is looking to discover his raison d’etre in A Dog’s Purpose, over not just one but several lifetimes. His reincarnations may or may not have been harmed in the making of this picture, but director Lasse Hallstrom’s reputation has been.

The appearance of a 60-second Internet video clip and an “animal cruelty” allegation has generated only slightly less outrage and debate than the JFK assassination. More on that later.

Back to basic Bailey, the adorable golden retriever who escapes a puppy mill and wonders, “What’s the meaning of life?” at the outset. How do we know that? Because Josh Gad’s voice makes us privy to Bailey’s thoughts — and the thoughts of the doggies who succeed him.

In the film’s first and longest sequence, he is rescued from suffocation in a hot car by 8-year-old Ethan (marvelous Bryce Gheisar) and his mom, who adopt and fall in love with him, over the alcoholic dad’s opposition. Tom Brady wouldn’t like Bailey: He’s especially skilled at catching a deflated football.

Trailer: A Dog’s Purpose

Cut to Ethan as a high school gridiron star (K.J. Apa), whose girlfriend Hannah (Britt Robertson) is equally fond of the dog. Bailey loves Hannah too (“She smells like biscuits”). But there’s a disaster, after which Ethan can’t play football any more. That’s the end of the American world, of course, and cause for his breakup with Hannah.

Bailey’s world soon ends too, but he gets a new leash on life — several of them. He comes back first as a German shepherd in a K-9 corps with widower-officer Carlos (John Ortiz). Next as a little corgi to cheer up lonely Maya (Kirby Howell-Baptiste). Finally, as neglected Buddy (an Australian shepherd/St. Bernard mix), whose sense for returning home is even more miraculous than Lassie’s.

Dennis Quaid and Peggy Lipton as the adult Ethan and Hannah are OK, and there’s an abundance of nice cinematography. The lovely “Townsville USA” scenery was actually shot in Winnipeg.

A Dog’s Purpose is based on W. Bruce Cameron’s schmaltzy novel, which was on the best-seller list for 49 weeks. (That’s the real shock.) Hallstrom is a sensitive director whose fine films about childhood and canines include the Oscar-nominated My Life as a Dog and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009), in addition to What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), Cider House Rules (1999), and Chocolat (2000).

Which brings us back to the big controversy, when behind-the-scenes footage — evidently made by PETA and given to TMZ for release — showed a handler attempting to force a distressed dog into turbulent water, then submerging. We now know that video was deceptively edited from two shots: In the first, the dog resists. In the second, he goes under for 5-6 seconds before being rescued by underwater divers there for that purpose. The American Humane Association’s safety monitor — evidently AWOL or asleep — was rightly suspended. But there was no pattern of negligence or any dire result

To get some perspective, try watching online videos of dogs getting their ears “cropped” — a euphemism for cut off — perfectly acceptable to millions of dog owners. For psychological abuse, check out some of the Westminster show trainers putting their dogs through objectionably punishing routines.

A Dog’s Purpose is a well-intentioned, pro-rescue film. Hallstrom’s team made and acknowledged a mistake. They shouldn’t be demonized or boycotted based on PETA’s (and TMZ’s) hyped-up agendas. Americans are obsessed by man’s best friend — me included. The distressed shepherd, at the very least, deserves a raise. But if a fraction of the media/​Internet attention, money, and organized outrage were so easily summoned and lavished on endangered species, the world would not be losing its polar bears, elephants, and cheetahs.

As for the big canine Hindu/​Buddhist issue — all the karma running over the dogma of a dog’s life, a dog’s afterlife, a dog’s purpose. What’s next, a dog’s religious ordination?

FYI, A Dog’s Life (1918 version) was Charles Chapin’s first million-dollar movie. This fairy-tale version 99 years later doesn’t improve on it. It’s much ado about anthropomorphizing — dogs (et al. animals) that talk cute or philosophical. It’s so-so kiddie fare, with some less-than-cutting-edge slapstick to offset lots of tears for lots of doggies dying.

What happens when Bailey swallows one of Ethan’s dad’s rare coins?

“No change yet,” Bob Hope would say.

The Block News Alliance consists of The Blade and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Barry Paris is film critic emeritus Barry Paris for the Post-Gazette.

First Published January 27, 2017, 5:00 a.m.