Original sentence: Although Melvin's life is intolerably complicated by having to deal with the dog and its homosexual owner, he is drawn more and more out of his shell and into their lives, almost powerless under the influence of the amazing intelligence and charisma of Verdell
Edited sentence: Although Melvin's life is intolerably complicated by having to deal with the (very intelligent and cute) dog and its homosexual owner, he is drawn more and more out of his shell and into their lives, almost powerless under the influence of the amazing intelligence and charisma of Verdell