Because of Winn-Dixie is an oldie from 2005. It was eleven year old AnnaSophia Robb’s first movie. The film was a heartwarming tear-jerker, an old fashioned kind of film about love and community and having a dog as a best friend.

Because of Winn-Dixie begins with Opal (AnnaSophia Robb) at the local Winn-Dixie getting some mac and cheese for her dad, Preacher (Jeff Daniels). A shaggy mutt was tearing through the store knocking things over. The manager wanted to call the pound. Opal wanted the dog. She won. She christened the dog Winn-Dixie.

She and her dad had just moved to a small town and she didn’t know anyone. Her mother had left them when she was only three. Having a dog seemed like a great idea to her. Opal and her dad lived in a single wide trailer rent free as a perk of him being the preacher. He preached in a former quick mart converted to a church. The landlord, grumpy Mr. Alfred (B.J. Hopper), didn’t allow pets.

Winn-Dixie could stay, temporarily, until they found him a home. You can guess how that went.

Opal made friends with everyone because of the dog. She befriended Otis (Dave Matthews) in the farm animal pet store so she could get her dog a red collar. She befriended the librarian Miss Franny (Eva Marie Saint) when Miss Franny mistook Winn-Dixie for a bear and nearly fainted. She befriended the blind Gloria (Cicely Tyson) when Winn-Dixie ran into her yard a swiped a peanut butter sandwich.

It took longer for her to get to know the kids in the town. Nick Price and Luke Benward as the Dewberry twins teased her unmercifully. As for girls, Amanda (Courtney Jines) was a little older. Sweetie Pie (Elle Fanning) was only five.

Winn-Dixie charmed everyone, even the entire church congregation. Eventually Opal had the loving community she craved.

I moved a couple of years ago and had to start shopping for groceries at a Winn-Dixie. For two years, I have been trying to remember the name of a movie I liked with Winn-Dixie in the title. This week, I saw a mention on social media by a woman who said her son got the part of the dog in this play at school and there it was: the title I tried to remember for so long.

When I looked, I found it streaming on Disney+, Hulu, and for rent on Prime.

I’d forgotten what a great cast the film had. Seeing Eva Marie Saint and Cicely Tyson again was a treat. I remembered odd things like the bottle tree and the scene in the grocery store. I remembered the emotional sense that it was a good movie but I’d forgotten most everything about the story. It was a fun rewatch.

If you’re in the mood for a sweet oldie starring a lovable dog, you might give this one a look.