CATS AND DOGS
US, 2001, 87 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Goldblum, Elizabeth Perkins, Alexander Pollock, Miriam Margolyes, voices of Tobey Maguire, Alec Baldwin, Sean Hayes, Susan Sarandon, Joe Pantoliano, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jon Lovitz, Salome Jens, Charlton Heston.
Directed by Lawrence Guterman.
What an idea for a conspiracy theory film! Cats and dogs struggle for global supremacy. One might say 'it's reigning cats and dogs'.
Perhaps a warning is called for. Cat-lovers beware. The cats are the villains of the piece. The dogs are still our best friends.
According to the witty screenplay, this war between cats and dogs has been going on for millennia. The principal of the dog secret service agents (voiced by Alec Baldwin) explains to the eager young recruit (voiced by Toby Maguire) that, according to Egyptian art and hieroglyphics, cats used to rule the world. They even dominated humans, making them build the pyramids. But, then, the dogs leapt to the defence of the humans, defeated the cats who have been trying to regain power ever since. And, another thing, the dogs have been keeping it quiet so they don't disturb us humans. It' a bit like the Toy Story movies. The Toys have lives of their own, but they are so quick pretending to be lifeless toys when humans are around, that we don't know the truth. (Just as well the movies let us know all these activities happening behind our backs!)
But now, an ambitious Persian cat, Mr Tinkles, has a master plan and starts catnapping dog agents, especially the pet of the family where the father, a very eccentric inventor, is trying to produce an antidote to dog allergies... You get the picture!
This is a very entertaining fantasy. It combines live action, including most of the animals, a number of extraordinarily engineered puppets and some computergraphics. Like last year's Stuart Little, this blend of human comedy and animals-acting-like-humans-comedy will prove popular with both children and adults. Since Cats and Dogs adds a touch of James Bond espionage and action (and Mr Tinkles looks remarkably like the cat belonging to Bond-nemesis, Blofeld), the film is both funny and exciting.
The voices are excellent and they include Susan Sarandon, Jon Lovitz and Joe Pantoliano (and, briefly Charlton Heston). But the best is Sean Hayes who brings a very clever mix of domination, sarcasm, sinister plotting and insinuating evil to the voice for Mr Tinkles. One way, however, that Mr Tinkles keeps getting his comeuppance is by being treated in a little-pet, pussy-pussy, fussy and smothering manner by Miriam Margoyles as the household maid. His final retribution at her hands (for pet photos) is very funny indeed.
Having animals talk has always been a great comedy ploy. One remembers Francis the talking mule and Mr Ed. More recently we have had Eddie Murphy as Doctor Dolittle and a gallery of funny-voiced animals (especially in the recent, very enjoyable Doctor Dolittle 2). When the animals ape human stories, they offer another pespective on human behaviour. Doctor Dolittle 2 is a plea to save animal species and the forests. Cats and Dogs mocks the ambitions and cruelty of mad dictators.
Oh, there are some humans in the film, but it is the cats and dogs who matter. Our lives are in their hands!
1.An entertaining fantasy? Playful? Serious? Comic?
2.The ordinary suburban atmosphere, homes, sports arenas? The contrast with the world of the cats and dogs? The headquarters? The espionage and covert action effects?
3.The cats and dogs in ordinary life, with the humans? Behind the scenes with their talking, plotting?
4.The role of cats and dogs: the cats and their dominance, the hieroglyphics about Egypt and Butch’s lesson to Lou? The images of the cats?
5.Mr Tinkles, the James Bond-style villain? Sean Hayes’ voice performance? His appearance? His being fussed over by Mr Mason’s maid? His resentment of it? His plan for world power? His subordinates, Calico and doing his will? The Russian cat? Mr Tinkles? and his control, television performances for the dogs? The plans, the attacks, trying to get Professor Brody’s formula? To alienate humans from the dogs? His plan in action, abducting the Brody family, tying them up, the broadcast? The reversal of the formula? The using of the mice, sprinkling the mice? The confrontation with the dogs, with Lou? His defeat? The humour of his retreat, getting a plane out of difficulty, back home? The maid and her sisters? The dresses, the posing for the pet photos? His comeuppance?
6.Lou, the foundling, taken in by the Brody family, the boy and his wariness, getting to like Lou, Lou and the ball? Lou and the instructions from Butch, the information? The difficulty with the cats, Lou and his ingenuous behaviour, revealing his presence? Attacked by the cats? His going to headquarters with Butch? Overhearing Butch and his decision about the Brody family? His friendship with Ivy and her support? Going to the rescue, taking the research? The attack on Mr Tinkles and the cats, his seeming to be dead, alive, well, staying with his family?
7.Butch, the old dog, chasing the cats? The contact with headquarters? An agent? His relationship with Ivy, Ivy and her appearance, friendship with Lou, explaining things to Butch? Helping out at the end, tracking down the cats?
8.The other dogs, Peek, Sam, Sam and the hair getting in his eyes? The range of dogs?
9.Headquarters, the mastiff in charge, Charlton Heston’s voice? Salome Jens as the collie at headquarters? The orders, control, the meetings? The dogs assembling, having to keep order? The decisions, the broadcasts?
10.The family, Scott as an ordinary young boy, his harassed mother, the absentminded professor father? Forgetting to go to the soccer match? His getting a formula, for the protection of dogs? Getting the enmity of the cats? The abduction, tied up, the mother screaming? Their release – and the happy ending?
11.A comedy and fantasy idea? How well thought out, performed? The comic parody of human behaviour?
