THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS

US, 1996, 96 minutes, Colour.
Uma Thurman, Janeane Garofalo, Ben Chaplin.
Directed by Michael Lehman.

A light comedy of errors, about surfaces and reality and about love. Janeane Garofalo (not as plain as the screenplay makes out) is a radio vet who charms photographer, Ben Chaplin. But she gets a neighbour (Uma Thurman, who has a loathsome boyfriend) to pretend to be her. There is some amusement in the masquerade and the tangles (with touches of farce) and you know it is all going to work out in the end (not without some pain). The truth (?) about humans.

1.Entertaining romantic comedy? Comedy of errors? Appearances and reality? A romantic film for the mid '90s?

2.Los Angeles settings, Venice Beach and the canals, the beaches, the apartments? The musical score? Range of songs?

3.The tone of the title? Indication of themes? Abbie's radio program?

4.The introduction to Abbie? On the radio, veterinary background? Her answering the questions, style, understanding of animals? Brian's telephone call - and the humour of her answer, getting him to befriend the dog, to keep it? His suggesting that they meet? His waiting for her - her describing herself in Noelle's description, her not turning up?

5.Abbie, Janeane Garofalo's screen presence? Comic style? One-liners and repartee? Her self-image, short, not beautiful? The jokes about her appearance - arriving at the radio station, the elevator etc? Her skill in her work, liking her work? Her relationship with the director and technicians? At home, with her cat, playing the violin? Her lonely life? Her claiming to know Noelle? The interaction with Roy, his violence, the breaking of the bow, her friendship with Noelle? Their discussions - and Noelle's agreeing to go along with the pretence?

6.Noelle, the model? Her relationship with Roy and his domination - and her later realising from the magazine that he was a loser? The friendship with Abbie, putting her foot in it, the flowers and the new bow? Their discussions, her ambitions to go on the radio, the news audition? Going along with the pretence? The meeting with Brian, her carrying it off, pretence? Going to his studio - and the episode with the tortoise? Her reliance on Abbie? Her gradual attraction to Brian? The options for telling the truth - Abbie's failure, her failure? Eating the cake, rushing to the radio station, keeping up the pretence? Going to his apartment, the drinking, the photo session, her remaining? The break with Abbie? Her going on the commercial shoot? Ringing? The discussions with Abbie, with Brian, getting him to write the list, the realisation of the truth? Her getting the job at the radio station? Her future? Attractive, model, not intellectual, scatty, her response to the gift of the book? Getting to grips with her own life?

7.Abbie, falling in love with Brian? Having to keep up the pretence to be Donna, her babble about making cheese from goat's milk? Her not being able to tell the truth? Colluding with Noelle in continuing the deception? The phone call and the seven hours, shared experiences, sexuality? His coming to her apartment and her pretending that she was Noelle? The episode at the radio station when Noelle was late? The decision to go to Brian's apartment, the photo session, her realisation of the attraction between Noelle and Brian? Her disappointment, not answering her phone? The chance meeting with Brian at the cosmetics counter (and the comedy of Noelle trying to help her - and then her returning the goods)? Their walking, talking, confiding? Her return home, disappointment? Brian's arrival, her pretence about Noelle being in the bath, the revelation of the truth? Her response to Brian's being hurt? Going to see him in the bar and his rejection? His sending the dog, putting her on the roller skates, the happy ending? A credible future for the two of them?

8.Brian, English background, photographer, the photo shoot with the dog on roller skates? The phone call and Abbie solving everything? The proposal, his waiting for her? His befriending Hank and training him? Going to the station and mistaking Noelle for Abbie? The beginning of the deception? His knowing that there was something odd but not being able to understand? The discussions in the bar, his ignoring of Abbie? The episode of the phone call, its effect on him, coming to Abbie's apartment? The photo session? The dog always liking Abbie? His chance meeting with Abbie and the discussion about Noelle's not ringing? Confiding in Abbie, lending his coat? The list, the humiliation of finding out the truth? Rejection of Abbie? Discussions with his friend, Hank persuading him to go again - and the comic ending on the roller skates?

9.The background of the radio station, the humorous phone calls and Abbie giving advice about the treatment of animals?

10.Brian's background, his friend and the family (and the tortoise)? The discussions and the support for Brian?

11.How satisfying a blend of comedy, romance? A film for the twenty-somethings of the '90s? The speeches about true love, the inner person, appearances?