HOTEL FOR DOGS
RYAN: As you know, I love family films and I love dogs; but for some reason, the new movie “Hotel for Dogs” did not win me over.
CAROLINE: You couldn’t have dragged to this movie kicking and screaming, so thanks for seeing it without me.
RYAN: You’re not a dog person and you don’t like kids’ movies so I was happy to take one for the team.
CAROLINE: So this movie couldn’t charm even you?
RYAN: I can’t really put my finger on why because I’m usually all about the suspension of disbelief. But this movie was really over-the-top what with the younger brother’s dog inventions, which although whimsical and great, were totally not believable as a young kid’s inventions.
CAROLINE: This would be the kid playing Emma “Niece of Julia” Roberts’s brother, yes?
RYAN: Correct. He created all this assembly line-type machinery that allowed the dogs to live an effortless, clean life.
CAROLINE: Thus creating the titular hotel for dogs?
RYAN: Yes. One thing I liked is that the dogs’ plight is similar to the children’s, who are foster kids looking for a home. There are a couple stars in the movie, namely Lisa Kudrow, who I normally love; but her part in this movie is stupid and lame and I didn’t like it.
CAROLINE: What about Don Cheadle?
RYAN: He’s such a well respected actor that I can’t believe he’s in this movie. It must be his worst role ever. Clearly he did it for the paycheck.
CAROLINE: That saddens me a little, but I guess we’ve all got to make a little extra dough in these trying times. Overall, this movie sounds like a real January release.
RYAN: For shizz; it’s totally mediocre. There are so many great kids’ movies from last year, like “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and “City of Ember,” and then something like this comes out, and I’m like, “Hmm… maybe I don’t love all kids’ movies.”
— BOTTOM LINE —
RYAN: It’s a decently paced, somewhat entertaining movie with cute dogs in it, but there’s really no reason to rush out and see it. It’s merely fine, and there are a lot better children’s films out there.
— RATING —
