Movie Review: The Truth About Cats & Dogs

By Ellen MacKay

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What Parents Should Know
While the pet antics make this movie seem like a great preteen pick, parents should note that Abby plays a liberated woman who discusses sexual matters frankly. Her telephone relationship with Brian culminates in a prolonged bathtub phone-sex scene.

Common Sense Media Review
From the outset, this whimsical comedy isn't entirely plausible. Although Jeanine Garofalo is a short brunette, she's a lot cuter than the movie would have you believe. And while Uma Thurman is tall and beautiful, why does that mean she can't read Sartre without a dictionary? On top of which, Brian the Brit seems like a pretty sharp customer, so how is it that he can't recognize Abby's voice outside of the radio station?

Despite these flaws in logic, CATS AND DOGS is funny and intelligent in ways that many romantic comedies aren't these days. After all, Abby's witty cynicism isn't entirely misguided. Beautiful "Hollywood" women do generally get more attention than the average veterinarian. Two scenes make this point hilariously clear, one involving a bicycle and the other a bee. And the plot contrivance that requires that Noel take on Abby's professional duties produces some pretty funny results. Not to be missed is the scene in which she has to encourage a wheezy turtle to emerge from its shell.

While the pet antics make this movie seem like a great preteen pick, parents should note that Abby plays a liberated woman who discusses sexual matters frankly. Her telephone relationship with Brian culminates in a prolonged bathtub phone-sex scene.

For a mature audience, however, this is a movie that's perfectly cast and nicely executed. Most everyone will cheer at the inevitable happy ending. Those yearning for more of the same should check out Steve Martin's hilarious Roxanne, which, like CATS AND DOGS, updates the familiar Cyrano de Bergerac story.