Saw this movie today for the first time (on Hub, a DISH channel) and I was amazed at the great FX, slick set designs, and witty dialog. I'm puzzled by all the negative IMDb reviews and message board comments. The action is great, the dialog is often very funny, and the acting of the dogs and cats (both the trained animals and their CGI-counterparts) was consistently good.
Teaming up a cat, two dogs, and bird-brained fast-talking pigeon with a busted wing was a fine idea. It generated clever dialog and heroic deeds, like an aqua-phobic cat rescuing her dog partner by diving into a tank of water.
The villains are great, too. Kitty Galore (the voice of Bette Midler) is a hairless cat like Dr. Evil's pet in "Austin Powers" -- with her own pet, a tiny terrified mouse. I also enjoyed the hulking henchmen-cat with steel teeth called "Paws" (with kind regards to Richard Kiel).
* * * * * * Spoiler Alert * * * * * *
Paws had a trick up his sleeve I did not see coming. In the climax he ripped off his fur to reveal himself to be a robot-cat -- and delivered a line in Arnold's voice!
The music is terrific -- rich, rousing, and very much in the grand tradition of James Bond movies. Composer Christopher Lennertz did a bang-up job. And he got in his fair share of musical jokes as well, such as the subtle Superman-like music when the pigeon shows up in time to fling off the cast on his busted wing and shout, "It's a bird! It's plane! Actually, you had it right the first time."
I think the reason some folks didn't like this movie is because it delivers the clever dialog and the great action at such a fast pace that some of the good stuff goes whipping past the audience before they know it. I had to run a few scenes back to catch it all, like when the hero falls down a chute and shouts, "Oh . . . my . . . Dog!" Subtle but clever.
Listen for an announcement on the PA in the super-spy secret headquarters. "Today's seminar: Harassment in the work place. Remember, Doberman -- do not pincher."
This movie is obviously the work of talented, hard-working people who invested time and money in an effort to make a very enjoyable family movie. Seems a shame their reward was the loss of over $40,000,000. That doesn't exactly encourage Hollywood to green light imaginative, big-budget productions.
Teaming up a cat, two dogs, and bird-brained fast-talking pigeon with a busted wing was a fine idea. It generated clever dialog and heroic deeds, like an aqua-phobic cat rescuing her dog partner by diving into a tank of water.
The villains are great, too. Kitty Galore (the voice of Bette Midler) is a hairless cat like Dr. Evil's pet in "Austin Powers" -- with her own pet, a tiny terrified mouse. I also enjoyed the hulking henchmen-cat with steel teeth called "Paws" (with kind regards to Richard Kiel).
* * * * * * Spoiler Alert * * * * * *
Paws had a trick up his sleeve I did not see coming. In the climax he ripped off his fur to reveal himself to be a robot-cat -- and delivered a line in Arnold's voice!
The music is terrific -- rich, rousing, and very much in the grand tradition of James Bond movies. Composer Christopher Lennertz did a bang-up job. And he got in his fair share of musical jokes as well, such as the subtle Superman-like music when the pigeon shows up in time to fling off the cast on his busted wing and shout, "It's a bird! It's plane! Actually, you had it right the first time."
I think the reason some folks didn't like this movie is because it delivers the clever dialog and the great action at such a fast pace that some of the good stuff goes whipping past the audience before they know it. I had to run a few scenes back to catch it all, like when the hero falls down a chute and shouts, "Oh . . . my . . . Dog!" Subtle but clever.
Listen for an announcement on the PA in the super-spy secret headquarters. "Today's seminar: Harassment in the work place. Remember, Doberman -- do not pincher."
This movie is obviously the work of talented, hard-working people who invested time and money in an effort to make a very enjoyable family movie. Seems a shame their reward was the loss of over $40,000,000. That doesn't exactly encourage Hollywood to green light imaginative, big-budget productions.
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