"Cats & Dogs" – They're Smarter Than We Think by Homer Yen (c) 2001
Thinking about dogs, this image comes to mind. Our stately friend plays with your child in the backyard, happy to chase balls and sticks. He sits on a windowsill to bark at strangers and mailmen. He roams the neighborhood and marks his territory. However, in the cleverly presented family film, "Cats & Dogs," we learn that these animals are not just family pets that run happily through idyllic, suburban yards. Most of their actions revolve around reconnaissance. And what are they on the lookout for? The answer is cats, who grow continually resentful that dogs are man's best friend and not them.
It's a dog-eat-dog world out there and only the strongest species can claim their spot next to humans. Cats and dogs have been locked in a never-ending struggle since time immemorial. So intense are their military tactics that dogs work from a secret base at the center of the earth with technology that rivals the headquarters of any James Bond film and, perhaps, even the Pentagon. Cats are equally well-equipped. In some of the wackier sequences, ninja cats come prowling along with night vision goggles while another evil feline spy coughs up hairballs that hide grenades and other devices.
The current battlefield involves the Brody house. The father (Jeff Goldblum) is an eccentric scientist who is on the verge of a major breakthrough. If successful, he could eradicate allergic reaction to dogs. This is very threatening for cats who visualize more dog lovers in the world as a result. The evil cat, Mr. Tinkles (voice of Sean Hayes), has a nefarious plan of his own. Steal the formula, alter its composition, and then use it to make humans deathly allergic to dogs.
Assigned to guard the Brody home is Lou (voiced by Tobey Maguire), a cute beagle puppy guaranteed to elicit several 'awws' from the audience. Lou actually winds up there as a result of a mix-up. Yet despite his inexperience, Butch (voiced by Alec Baldwin), a regal shepherd dog and weathered secret agent, quickly brings him up to speed. For much of the film, these two and other various dog agents fend off increasingly ambitious encroachments by the cats.
Also of note are the special effects. The animals bear expressions that are incredibly human and the lips move in perfect unison to the words being spoken. To bring this film to life, state-of-the-art techniques combine real animals with puppets and computer-generated effects. The realism is impressive.
You may see these common house pets and think that spying dogs and scheming cats are absurd. But if you think about it, dogs would make great agents. With their acute hearing, heightened senses, speed, and bravery, dogs could accomplish many unique tasks. It's also easy to picture Mr. Tinkles as the supervillain. I am reminded of a movie villain named Blofeld (a recurring nemesis of early James Bond films) who always held this type of cat in his lap. Maybe this cat will succeed where Blofeld failed. Mr. Tinkles has a deadpan, capricious demeanor and is as demented as he is funny.
A better family film along this genre is "Spy Kids." That film had more energy. However, children will love the talking animals and adults should find enough humor to keep them from getting bored throughout the 87-minute running time. Like cats and dogs, this film is nice to have around.
Grade: B- S: 0 out of 3 L: 0 out of 3 V: 1 out of 3
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