The Truth About Cats & Dogs

Starring: Uma Thurman, Janeane Garofalo, Ben Chaplin, Jamie Foxx, David Cross
Directed by: Michael Lehmann
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Romance
1996

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A radio show host (Janeane Garofalo) asks her friend (Uma Thurman) to pretend to be her to win the guy (Ben Chaplin) of her dreams.

Review:

Tim: The Truth About Cats & Dogs isn't a bad movie, it's simply a decent, run-of-the-mill romantic comedy. The film has a few humorous moments, but ultimately doesn't stick enough. The movie is veyr lightweight and sadly too forgettable. I didn't dislike the movie, but I couldn't find a whole lot to like here, either.

The story itself is pretty interesting, if not exactly original. Janeane Garofalo is a radio show host that deals with pet issues. She talks to Ben Chaplin, who is the perfect guy for her. She's insecure about her looks, so she convinces Uma Thurman to pretend to be her. Chaplin falls for Thurman, and hilarity ensues. The movie is fairly predictable, although the journey is still fairly entertaining.

This is true because the cast all give pretty good performances. Garofalo acts as if she knows the number of opportunities she has to play the romantic lead are dwindling very quickly. She's likable and enjoyable in the part. She works well with Thurman, who does well playing the pretty but dim best friend. Thurman does have fun with the role, even though I wouldn't call her performance inspired. Chaplin is decent as the love interest, although he's not exactly the brightest bulb in this film, either. The love triangle between these three is pretty entertaining, and there are some fun moments watching Garofalo and Thurman try to keep up their ruse.

I like the movie's message that it's what's on the inside that counts, but I wish it wasn't so forcefully fed to us. The movie is a bit too obvious in this department. Still, a good message is a good message.

This movie does a nice job of mixing in romantic comedy with animals, a combination that certainly can work. The ideas and events of the film aren't new or original, but the actors are definitely up for their roles. This movie was fine, and I don't have too many flaws. The problem is that it's just too lightweight, to the point where we don't really care much about anything happening on screen. I never felt invested in the movie, probably because I could see the end of the movie in the first 10 minutes.

The Truth About Cats & Dogs isn't a bad movie. It's simply another silly 90s romantic comedy that does a few things well, but ultimately leaves you wanting more.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Permanent Midnight, 200 Cigarettes