Close hams it up while Daniels tones it down. (101 Dalmatians / 102 Dalmatians (DVD))

Member Name: dididave

Product:	101 Dalmatians / 102 Dalmatians (DVD)
Date:	31/07/07 (173 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A great remake and homage to the original.

Disadvantages: Missing the musical numbers.

When fashion designer Anita meets the bumbling but likeable Computer game designer Roger, they are brought together in love for their two Dalmations, Perdita and Pongo. Ninety-nine Dalmation puppies later and life could not be better. Unfortunately, Anita's boss Cruella De Vil has her eyes set on the young pups to satisfy her love for fur and the long Dalmation coat she has always dreamed of. When the pups are kidnapped it is up to Pongo and Perdita to rescue them.

I really wanted to hate 101 Dalmations. I have a childlike love for the 1961 animated version and had thought this would be a blasphemous remake of a much loved classic from my childhood. Fortunately, I could not have been more wrong.

This remake is a wonderful homage to the original that takes the original themes and puts them in a live action setting. Each and every character is absolutely perfect for their roles and the setting retains the fundamental Britishness that I loved so much in the original.

Jeff Daniels, whose only other previous role I had seen was as the ridiculous Harry Dunne in "Dumb and Dumber", is wonderfully understated as the clumsy, harmless Roger and is perfectly suited to the part. Joely Richardson also plays down her role nicely as Anita and their gentle love for each other is played to perfection. On the other end of the scale is the amazingly over the top, yet spot on performance by Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil. She hams up her part magnificiently and remains the right side of menacing while remaining utterly ridiculous as every Disney villain should be.

I have already referred to the fact that 101 Dalmations retains the Britishness I loved about the original and this is partly due to the performances of comedians Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams as the bumbling kidnappers of the film. Their antics provide some genuine belly laughs and their "Laurel and Hardy" style performance is much akin to Joe Pesci and Daniel Sterns slapstick villainy in "Home Alone".

Of course the film is really all about the setting and the animals and Disney excel in this too. Set in a London, in an idealistic Britain during a snow filled winter the tone is really spot on and their is a warmness to the atmosphere throughout that makes this very much the ultimate family film. The intelligence and personality of the Dalmations and other animals on show really is heart rending while they also provide some of the funniest moments in the film. In fact, it is their battles with Cruella De Vil that provide the funniest slapstick moments in the film.

Musically this films obviously lacks the musical numbers of the original but if you listen carefully you can hear the odd tinkle of "Cruella De Vil's theme" and the soundtrack is entirely in keeping with the fundamental nostalgia peppered throughout the movie.

In essence, what 101 Dalmations accomplishes is an exceptional remake that in many ways surpasses the original. With the acting of animals and actors at its finest this is one family film that no-one should miss.

Summary: An excellent film for all the family to enjoy.