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Is it worth $10? Yes
Is it worth $14 (3-D)? No
Sometimes a movie just makes you smile.
“Cats & Dogs: The Revenge Of Kitty Galore” made me smile with its humor, good-natured story, quirky script and spirited visuals. And for a kid-friendly movie of this nature, smiling is all it takes.
Cats and dogs are natural rivals in director Brad Peyton’s film, but they agree on one thing: Humans must be protected at all costs. So when Kitty Galore (Bette Midler) plans to unleash a sound that will make all dogs “barking mad,” secret agent canines and felines must band together to stop the mad cat.
They are: German Shepherd Diggs (James Marsden), the new recruit who doesn’t take orders; Australian Shepherd Butch (Nick Nolte), the grizzled veteran; Catherine (Christina Applegate), a female cat who puts all nine of her lives on the line; and a pigeon named Seamus (Katt Williams), who holds secret information. They’re helped by a bevy of supporting animals, most delightfully the dangerous cat Mr. Tinkles, a Hannibal Lecter-type wonderfully voiced by Sean Hayes.
While the animals are (mostly) cute and amusing, far too often kiddy movies offer little for adults. Not here. In fact, there are so many James Bond references you’d think this was an “Austin Powers” movie. A few: The opening credits; the name Kitty Galore comes from the character Pussy Galore in “Goldfinger”; Kitty’s henchcat has metal teeth and is named Paws, a direct ode to Jaws in “Moonraker”; gadget cat Peek (Joe Pantoliano) serves the same function as Q; and lastly, Sir Roger Moore does the voice of Tab Lazenby, and that last name should ring familiar to true Bond fans.
But it’s not just Bond references that offer cheeky humor. There are numerous animal-related puns throughout, such as Butch telling Diggs they can’t let it become a “cat eat dog world out there.” When you’re willing to believe cats and dogs have secret organizations designed to protect humans, a line like this is absolutely delightful. And if you’re having trouble believing the premise, a) have a soul, and b) lighten up. If toys can warm our hearts by coming alive in “Toy Story 3,” surely our animal companions can do more than we expect as well.
As for the 3-D, don’t waste the extra money. In order for it to be worth higher 3-D prices the animals would have to appear so close – and have such finely detailed fur – that we literally feel like we can pet them. That doesn’t happen, so although there’s nothing wrong with the visual effects, don’t bother with the 3-D.
Do, however, bother with the rest of “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore,” as it’s fun for kids, fine for adults and great for animal lovers. And, most importantly, it’ll make you smile.
Did you know?
With the exception of Seamus and Paws, the film’s leading four-legged roles are all played by real animals with some animatronics and CGI mixed in.
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Zeena
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... I think it's worth the money to see this movie. I really enjoy watching this movie with my cousins. I definetly smiled!!! |
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