Give it a miss (Cats & Dogs (DVD))

Member Name: itsonlyme

Product:	Cats & Dogs (DVD)
Date:	09/08/01 (36 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see review

Disadvantages: see review

Certainly not a film for the cat lover, but more for the comedy fans out there. Offering no more than some light family fun this summer and promises to be superb!

However, Cats and Dogs never really gets beyond its early virtues -- this is one film in which the idea is far better than the end product. A shorter version of the film, perhaps a 15- to 30-minute short would have been perfect for the story, but as a 90-minute feature, everything feels old by the third act. First time screenwriters John Requa and Glenn Ficarra have a really nice idea for a movie at first, if only Warner Bros. had brought in two other people to write the rest of the film.

The story proper to Cats and Dogs revolves around the notion that cats really do hold a grudge against dogs -- so much that the two groups have created a type of cold war. Cats are fiendish and deceptive -- they can use their cuteness to get into a heart before turning the heartstrings into marionette strings; dogs are noble and virtuous -- and are indeed the protector of mankind!

Cue a series of battles between the two species that sees them trying to enter the scientist Mr brodies House (Jeff Goldblum), but the dogs, let by a mungral stary called lou must stop these series of attacks

There are definitely a handful of nice moments in the film that stand out -- a Stalin-esque rally of cats is the most memorable, they even throw in the red flags and marching phalanx -- but most of it is cloyingly cutesy attempts to pander to, as W.C. Fields would put it, animals and small children. There are some parents that would get their kicks with their kids, but most will not really share the pleasure that potty jokes give to the children.


There are some really fine moments ? The cats? allegiance with the mice, the dogs reading the rights, the Mr.Tinkles performance and a few select others, but this really isn't enough to save what is overall a very disappointing film.
Quite
simply, the concepts behid the film, although interesting and slightly original, is not deep enough to sustain an hour and a half movie...

Summary: