Cats & Dogs (2001)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Lawrence Guterman

Writers (WGA):

John Requa (written by) &
Glenn Ficarra (written by)

Release Date:

4 July 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Things Are Gonna Get Hairy!

Plot:

A look at the top-secret, high-tech espionage war going on between cats and dogs, which their human owners are blissfully unaware of.

Plot Keywords:

Dog | Cat | Scientist | Secret Agent | Talking Dog

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 24

1:10 AM

TBS

Cast

Jeff Goldblum	...	Professor Brody
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Mrs. Brody
Alexander Pollock	...	Scotty Brody
Miriam Margolyes	...	Sophie the Castle Maid
Myron Natwick	...	Mr. Mason
Doris Chillcott	...	Mrs. Calvert
Kirsten Robek	...	Pie Mom
Frank C. Turner	...	The Farmer
Mar Andersons	...	Guard at Factory Gate
Gillian Barber	...	Factory Receptionist
Carol Ann Susi	...	Sophie's Sister
Randi Kaplan	...	Sophie's Sister
Mary Bogue	...	Sophie's Sister
Alvin Sanders	...	Mason Employee
Mark Schooley	...	Mason Employee

Also Known As:

Cats and Dogs (USA) (alternative spelling)
Felines and Canines (USA) (working title)
Fighting Like Cats and Dogs (USA) (working title)
Like Cats & Dogs (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for animal action and humor.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Norway:7 | Denmark:7 | South Korea:All | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Finland:K-7 | France:U | Germany:6 (cut) (w) | Hong Kong:I | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #38325)

Filming Locations:

Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Mr. Tinkles refers to the Sophie as 'Large Marge', a reference to Pee-wee's Big Adventure.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Brodys are held hostage by Mr. Tinkles, Calico disappears from Mr. Brody's shoulder in the reverse shots.

Quotes:

Mrs. Mom Brody: I have a bat.
Prof. Dad Brody: I have a mitt, and I'm not afraid to use it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "HBO First Look: The Making of 'Cats & Dogs' (#8.8)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Rocky And The Circus

Good for kids but fails to have any adult comedy

Scientist Brody is working on a formula that will wipe out dog allergies, thus making dogs the most popular pets on earth. When the dog agent protecting the house is kidnapped he is accidentally replaced by an untrained puppy Lou. Lou is trained up with the help of Butch, Peeps, Ivy and Sam. However with Mr Tinkles chasing the formula and Lou growing near to his family - can the formula be protected?

This had great potential - a good plot, a really strong cast and a good opportunity for children and adult jokes alike. The plot delivers what it has - a little silly but quite clever in places - but the comedy is seriously lacking for adults. For children there are some fart jokes and plenty of cat and dog slapstick but there are almost no jokes for adults that other films such as Shrek and Toy Story had in spades.

Given the cast this is very surprising - Jon Lovitz is a great voice but is hardly used at all, the character of Mr Tinkles could have been a great Dr Evil character, but even he is wasted. This is a great shame as all good children's films need to have something for adults to enjoy again. The great cast (Maguire, Baldwin, Clarke Duncan, Sarandon, Pantoliano, Charlton Heston, Lovitz) is a good draw for adults but having almost nothing to deliver for them is a big disappointment. The only funny scenes are the ninja cats and a handful of others but mostly it's wasted. The human actors are bland - Goldblum playing a scatty scientist? Surely not! That'll really push his barriers.

Overall a disappointing film that'll please children but needed a lot more work to keep adults entertained.