THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS & DOGS
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 1996 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): ***
THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS & DOGS is a light hearted and delightful retelling of the CYRANO DE BERGERAC story. It is a fun movie with not a lot of substance, but with plenty of style and wit. Although not quite as good Steve Martin's version called ROXANNE, it nevertheless has a script by Audrey Wells that is superb - full of intelligent humor. Although it is certainly no laugh riot, there are many jokes, small and large, to keep your attention and fix a smile on your face. Not only does the script possess creative humor, it fashions compelling characters for whom the audience really cares. A lightweight show certainly, but a sweet one.
Dr. Abby Barnes (Janeane Garofolo) is a radio talk show veterinarian whose show is called "The Truth About Cats and Dogs." One day a photographer called Brian (Ben Chaplin) calls in with a problem he is having with a wonderful big dog named Hank (Hank the Dog). Hank is upset because he has to be on roller skates for the picture. Brian falls for Abby's voice, but Abby lacks self-confidence with her looks so she lies about whom she is. Actually she is a short but a little chunky brunette with a lovely and attractive smile. Nevertheless, she tells Brain that she is her tall, thin, blonde, and gorgeous neighbor Noelle Slusarsky (Uma Thurman).
The next day on the phone, Abby asks Brian, "How'd it go?" with Hank. He says, "he snored, but we stood it." She inquires, "How'd you do it?", and he explains, "He slept on my face so I couldn't hear him."
Noelle doesn't understand Abby's lack of sexual activity, asking, "You gotta have a boyfriend, don't you? Otherwise it's just you, a cat, and 40 candles on your birthday cake." Abby envies Noelle's beauty, telling her, "You burp and guys think its adorable. You puke and they line up to hold your hair back." Noelle on the other hand, does not like her life as a model, explaining, "I don't eat anything so I can look good on the outside, but on the inside, there's nothing."
During most of the movie we have almost five foot Abby hanging out with almost six foot Noelle and creating some hilarious visuals. The only major dirty word in the show is a single use of the F-word by Noelle in a great line that almost had me double over in laughter. Both of the actresses are good, but this is Garofolo's show. She is terrific - strong, witty, vulnerable, and extremely humorous. Her funny line at the end of the movie is the best part of the show.
Thurman does a good job of making Noelle into an airhead without resorting to caricature. After Brian gives her a book, Noelle is shocked saying, "nobody has ever given me a book before that doesn't have pictures in it."
Chaplin has a limited role as the sweet and boyishly handsome boyfriend. He does this well, but the stars are the two female leads, and he is there strictly to complement them. Once Abby puts him to the test by wanting to know, "If you are trapped in Biosphere 3, whom would you want to bring: Time's Woman of the Year or Playboy's Bunny of the Year?" Okay guys, what would you have answered?
I do not know exactly what constitutes a "chick flick," but the large audience on opening night was over three quarters women with more all female couples than mixed sex couples so perhaps this is a chick flick. As a male however, I was just as impressed by the show as was my wife.
I like the way, the art of long and intelligent telephone conversation is a central part of the film. The film really teaches you that beauty is more than skin deep. Actually, I thought there should have been more of a contrast between Abby's looks and Noelle's. Abby's clothes are suitably clunky, but Noelle's frocks are too plain and her make-up too washed out. In contrast, Abby had great make-up. I would pick Abby every time as would I suspect will most intelligent men watching the show.
THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS & DOGS runs a fast 1:37 thanks to good editing and pacing by editor Stephen Semel and director Michael Lehmann. It is correctly rated PG-13. There are only a few bad words, no violence, no nudity, and the sex is limited to the telephone. I suspect the film would be fine for most kids over 10. I recommend the show to you and give it ***.
**** = One of the top few films of this or any year. A must see film. *** = Excellent show. Look for it. ** = Average movie. Kind of enjoyable. * = Poor show. Don't waste your money. 0 = One of the worst films of this or any year. Totally unbearable.
REVIEW WRITTEN ON: April 26, 1996
Opinions expressed are mine and not meant to reflect my employer's.
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