REVIEW: Remember that movie with Diane Lane and John Cusack, what was it? Oh yeah, Must Love Dogs. Well, it’s not a requirement but it does help if you really want to enjoy this movie. One of Priscilla’s favorite dogs is the French bulldog. She would already have one if she could afford to get one. They are not cheap at all. If any of you know of any French bulldogs out there that are available at a decent price, please, please, send me an email. Or if you would like to contribute to the “Let’s Get Priscilla a French Bulldog Fund”, let me know as well. I’m going on and on about this and yet I’m not even sure if one of the canine stars in this movie is a French bulldog. I love dogs but I’m not a professional classifier. I still can’t tell a French bulldog from a Boston terrier. They look the same to me. Georgia, be it French or Boston, is one of the many adorable dogs used in this fun, light-hearted picture. If Priscilla would have gone with me to the screening, she would have been able to tell me what kind of dog Georgia is as well as what kind of dog Friday is too. I think he looks like a long-haired Jack Russell, but what do I know. Friday is the main canine star and he and his buddies steal every scene they are in. Friday is an ingenious dog that has the talent of finding and eating food and what a healthy appetite he has. Each of the other four legged stars has its own talent as well. We have chewers, fetchers, howlers, and even lovers. All of them have found the home they needed at this abandoned hotel thanks to Bruce (Jake T. Austin) and Andi (Emma Roberts), orphan siblings that have an affinity for dogs. Oh yeah, there are humans in this movie too. They all did as good as you would expect for this kind of movie. Bruce and Andi are trouble makers but they are ingenious trouble makers. Their hearts lie on the desire to be part of a loving family and so they created one for themselves and will defend it at any cost.
This film is geared more toward kids and based on the feedback I noticed during the screening, they will enjoy it. From the very beginning, there was audience participation with the movie as they clapped along with the opening music. There were kids galore in the audience and they were pumped and excited to watch this film. There were plenty of aw’s and oh’s throughout and it concluded with a nice round of applause. The story is predictable and cliché at times, down to the mean and nasty dog catchers, so you grown-ups might enjoy the movie more if accompanied by children, unless you’re a major fan of dogs. But regardless, the message that this movie delivers is for everyone. It sheds light on the fact that so many really good dogs are in need of a loving family and home. In the movie they get a hotel but in our world it might not be that simple. Director Thor Freudenthal did a good job of tugging at our heart strings by showing us the importance of being part of a loving family, both human and pet alike.
Film Review By Cine Marcos
BLU-RAY: The film is presented in 1080P widescreen in a 1.85:1 aspect ration preserving its theatrical format. The picture is just flawless, giving the film vast array of vivid colors. Not only the picture looks excellent in this release, also the sound it is good, a English 5.1-TrueHD Master Audio as well as a 5.1 Dolby Digital in French and Spanish. It also includes subtitles in English, French , Spanish and Portuguese. The audio capture in detail the sounds of man’s best friend.
In terms of special features the blu-ray includes, the usual making of featurette and about the more short featurettes that focus more on the canines. It also includes about eight deleted scenes and Commentary by Thor Freudenthal, Ewan “Jack” Leslie, Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin. All of the special features in thu=is release are in HD, which is a good thing.
Overall Hotel for Dogs is a nice surprise, even if you are force to watch this film, you will find that it wasn’t bad. You actually may end up recommend it.
Release Date: April 28, 2009
