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 Cats
& Dogs
 
Cats
& Dogs is a family movie with exponents. If you can bribe
an aunt or uncle or persuade a grand parent to take your wee
ones, do it! C&D is adorable, don't get me wrong, but it's
no Shrek.
Smaller
audience members were hooting, while the over 10 gang yearned
for the video games calling them from the foyer area of the
multiplex.
The
premise of C&D is great. Dogs now "rule the world"
as man's best friends. But, the cats want in. One particular cat
"Tinkles" (voiced by Sean Hayes) has staged an all out
war against our furry canine friends.
The
cats are too close to never attaining best friendom thanks to
a parental scientist (Jeff "What? This could be my "Honey,
I shrunk the kids, I'd love to have a ride at Universal!"
Goldblum) is on the verge of a serum that eliminates allergic
reaction to canine dander! Think of the world this would open
up to the dogs! (Er, and the cats' -no?).
Tinkles must destroy that formula. Or better yet reverse it
and make it cause a terrible allergic reaction whenever a dog
gets within 5 feet of man, woman or CHILD! This way cats would
take over as the numero uno friend in the households of the
world (Which technically they are- due to housing rules on dogs,
etc- but, go with it...).
Secret
agent dogs and cats battle it out beneath our noses. We are
oblivious to the warfare- and I mean warfare.
The opposing
teams have have secret dwellings, state of the art headquarters
and fancy gizmos that would make James Bond envious. Just adorable!
Jeff
Goldblum, along with Elizabeth Perkins play the busy  parents
in the celebrity voiced farce. The cats & dogs have that
real mixed with animatronics special effects, think Babe. Though
the cats got the short end of the FX dollars. Most look about
as real as your whacko aunt's taxidermied Tabby. Yech.
Goldblum is really starting to resemble a fly. Not aging well.
No siree Bob. Eliabeth Perkins is her usual adorable self.
Still,
for what C&D is- A KID'S MOVIE- it is very cute. There's
not an innuendo, swear word or double entendre in the whole
kitten caboodle! There's no "magic" though. Sadly,
there is nothing that makes it a classic. It's premise is clever
and some scenes very funny but it never gets over the "cute"
fence and remains a quick fun day at the movies family style.
But, I'm afraid, not one character is so endearing that your
kid will beg for Cats & Dogs bedsheets, lamps, room guards
etc. this holiday season.
The
dogs were humble, sweet and loving while the cats came off as
sneaky unloving feline frumps. That's sure to have more than
a few cat lovers up in arms on the way out. Definitelynot
scripted by cat lovers...
Snack
recommendation: Kids: popcorn pak Parents: Valium if a matinee
Starring:
Jeff Goldblum, Elizabeth Perkins, Alec Baldwin, Michael Clarke
Duncan, Sean Hayes, Jon Lovitz,
Tobey Maguire, Joe Pantoliano, and Susan Sarandon
Directed
by: Lawrence Gutterman
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