CATS & DOGS

REVIEWED BY CHARITY BISHOP

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: animal violence, mild innuendo

Rated:

Mission: Impossible literally goes to the dogs in Warner Bro's new slapstick comedy that mixes Stuart Little and Charlie's Angels with hand to hand combat (or is that paw to paw combat?), amazing special effects, and animated canine agents. Although sometimes predictable and often humorous, Cats & Dogs is a wild ride through the minds... and eyes... of Man's Best Friend. That in itself should warn off cat lovers, who will be severely peeved over the portrayal of their beloved felines. 

Professor Brody (Jeff Goldblum) is an up and coming scientist working on a new medication that will make humans compatible with dogs. Without allergies, dogs would soon "infest" every house in the world... something for which the feline nation sorely would regret. And so their leader, the interminable Mr. Tinkles, wages war on their canine competitors. When the doggie agent assigned to the Brody household is catnapped, leaving the formula unprotected, the Canine corps quickly steps in to replace him. Unfortunately, Lou, the happy-go-lucky beagle that Mrs. Brody brings home, isn't one of the assigned agents. Butch, a neighborhood agent, has to teach this pup the ropes... and fast! In the meantime, Mr. Tinkles is deploying agents -- the Siamese twins -- to "take care of" this new problem, and Lou may find himself in over his head. His human counterpart, his young owner Scott, is completely unaware of the battle that is going on directly beneath his nose. Tied up with his own problems and determined not to like the new family puppy, the poor kid's about to get a wake-up call when an accident leaves Dad with the perfect formula.

Time is running out, and the final climax between the felines and canines is mounting. But who will come out on top? It's a wild, crazy ride made up of the slapstick comedy that made Home Alone such a hit. However, seeing animals go at each other so maliciously is almost unsettling, like you've purposely set up a cockfight. It might also give kids the wrong idea of how to treat their pets, with cats flying through the air, dogs narrowly escaping being impaled by sharp objects, and claw and teeth combat. 

It has an overall video game feel, as if you were in an arcade, with always fast-moving action and wicked animation. It does have a few witty moments, and some of the dialogue is unforgettable. The gadgets, from the "Kitty Tracker 2000" to the underground world of canine conspiracy, steal the show. The cats driving the limo, the Russian kitten, and the overall "mafia" feel of the kitty nation are the most memorable moments. And with cameo voice appearances by Charlton Heston and Susan Sarandon, it guarantees a few adult sales. Unfortunately, extreme violence aside, it does have a few hairballs. 

There's some crudeness, mostly played between the dogs, several inappropriate uses of "God," and some mild innuendo that may or may not go over kids' heads. I'm not comfortable with the slapstick violence in general, because it does give the wrong idea to impressionable children. But the premise of the film itself is very clever. As it stands now, Cats & Dogs is a witty comedy aimed for kids. Tedious and practical for adults, it probably won't please the older crowd. And then there's the abominable Mr. Tinkles and his henchmen. A cat lover myself, I felt the film was rather one sided... in favor of the dogs. It's a film you'll either love or hate. I enjoyed seeing it once, but probably won't ever watch it again... although I know a few people, my brother included, who will probably see it a hundred times. If you're a fan of the humor to Baby's Day Out and Home Alone, you'll probably enjoy it. But if you're a cat lover and not terribly fond of what could be called animal cruelty in jest, Cats & Dogs falls far short of classic drama.