Cats & Dogs
Cats & Dogs – It’s the age-old battle – Good vs Evil; Dogs vs Cats – and it continues to rage. Now the cats, led by the villainous Mr Tinkles, threaten to tip the scales in their favour by making all of humankind allergic to dogs! Human boy, Scott, is devastated after losing his beloved dog and reluctantly accepts a new puppy, Lou. Unbeknownst to both boy and pup, the dogs have recruited them in their bid to put a stop to Mr Tinkle’s plot but can these two rookies do their bit to save the world?
Cats & Dogs (2001) – Director: Lawrence Guterman
Rating: PG
Running Length: 87 minutes
Starring: Alexander Pollock, Alec Baldwin, Jeff Goldblum
Genres: Action, Comedy
REVIEW: ‘CATS & DOGS’
Talking animals are always a hit. We all love putting words into our pets mouths when they give us a certain look or behave in a particular way. With dogs usually eager to please and cats being more aloof, the simplified ‘good vs evil’ trope is easy to fit the two species into.
‘Cats & Dogs’ sees the animals at loggerheads. The latest scheme from evil mastermind, Mr Tinkles (Sean Hayes) is to make all humans allergic to dogs, prompting them to get rid of the canines once and for all. Trying to foil the plan are a team of dogs, led by Butch (Alec Baldwin) and (accidental) new recruit; the aforementioned things explained to the bewildered puppy to get the audience totally on side pupper.
The human element comes from Scott and his parents (Elizabeth Perkins and Jeff Goldblum). While Mr and Mrs Brody are kind and loving (though flawed), Scott’s teenage angst jars against the rest of the characters and starts off being too mean to warm to – his new puppy is innocent and keen but Scott hates him for replacing his former dog and sarcastically names him ‘Loser’ (which is then shortened to Lou). Of course, the plot forces the pair to bond and Scott does become much more personable but his initial animosity is off-putting.
To be fair, there is little to criticise with a ‘does what it says on the tin’ type film as ‘Cats & Dogs’. Whilst hardly brimming with new ideas, it is perfectly enjoyable and overall is a lovely, fun little film for the whole family to enjoy. This is a movie that can be added to the list of rainy day films that parents won’t have to think about when the kids sit down to watch.
CONTENT: IS ‘CATS & DOGS’ SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?
A dog runs head first into a tree at full speed while chasing a cat. It shakes its head but is unharmed. It then pulls down the branch and catapults the cat through a window.
A dog is tricked into approaching a cat that is lying in the road. A van pulls up and the dog is bundled into it, the dog is seen in the back window looking scared but is pulled down out of sight.
A dog creates a catapult which throws pitchforks. When trying it out, one of the pitchforks flies straight into a wall.
Scott misses his lost dog and is very despondent. When his parents give him a new puppy to try and cheer him up, he is resistant to it and suggests that they call the dog ‘Loser’. The family settle on the puppy being called ‘Lou’
A bone attached to a balloon floats down to the ground. When a dog goes to get it, he is stopped by another who throws a stick at the bone which then explodes.
Lou is recruited to be an agent for the dogs to fight the cats. Some other dogs are annoyed by how young Lou is saying ‘He’s still got his ‘You-know-what’!’
A man brandishes a frightening looking syringe, however he injects himself with it and is fine.
Cat ninjas attack and use night-vision goggles. When seeing through this everything has an eerie green colour and eyes glow which could be a bit creepy for younger children. The ninjas talk with a stereotypical ‘Asian’ accent.
A dog eats some chicken from a dumpster and thinks its delicious.
A boy dejectedly talks about how he isn’t good at football and when asked about his recent trial for the team, he replies ‘Coach said try-outs for the girls’ team is on Monday’
Scott’s dad forgets to attend an important game of Scott’s who is very angry about it.
Trying to act normal, one dog says to another ‘Quick Sam, smell my butt!’ and then complains about Sam’s cold nose.
Scott and his family are threatened with being ‘Put to sleep’.
A character appears to have been killed in an explosion. A loved one cries for them, however things soon take a different turn.
CAN I SEE A CLIP?
VERDICT: IS ‘CATS & DOGS’ FOR KIDS?
- Violence: 1/5 (comedic and child-friendly fighting between the animals)
- Emotional Distress: 2/5 (the scene at the climax of the movie could be upsetting for some children, however it should not be too distressing)
- Fear Factor: 1/5 (some threats from the cats)
- Sexual Content: 0/5
- Bad Language: 1/5 (mild cursing and blasphemy. A dog exclaims ‘Son of my mom’)
- Dialogue: 1/5 (an overweight maid is called ‘Large Marge’, general childish insults throughout)
- Other Notes: Deals with themes of being a fish out of water, family, friendship, family pets, fighting against evil and mistaken identities.
Words by Laura Record
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