Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (2010)

Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (2010): Dir: Brad Payton / Voices: James Marsden, Christina Applegate, Nick Nolte, Bette Midler, Katt Williams: Kitty Galore is a satire twist on the famed James Bond femme only this time the target is humans against dogs. Perhaps it should be humans, dogs and cats against stupid scripts such as the one that became this idiotic film. It is every bit as stupid as its prequel with special effects that are still about as fetching as dog snot. Director Brad Peyton fares okay with the unexplained nature of these agent pets but that is where the central problem lies. Imaginations can only be elevated so far but this film tests the boundaries. James Marsden voices the police dog retrieved from the kennel whose future is brighter than the film. We can sense early that his screw up days will be reversed. Christina Applegate voices an agent cat on the good side. She is afraid of water but ultimately befriends the dog. Seeing that many households contain both species, it is amusing that these films oppose the two like a hand down cliché. Nick Nolte voices the cardboard dog Butch who is fed up with the new arrival but will be proved wrong because plot twists are beyond the talent working on this story. Bette Midler voices the scheming Kitty whose owner is a magician. Midler is an inspiring choice for the voice but she can and has done better. Katt Williams voices a dimwitted carrier pigeon who managed to fly into the wrong movie to further the idiocy. It makes no sense and should be buried in the backyard underneath a ton of dog crap. Score: 1 / 10

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.

Alright, I will try my best to not rant and rave (especially since I already have done a much more detailed review of this on my blog, so read it there if you are curious), but this movie is without a shadow of a doubt one of the worst films of all time. Yes, worse than crap like Batman and Robin, Troll 2, or even Battlefield Earth, especially when you throw in the small fact that at least those films are interesting in how bad they are. This film is not interesting, not in the least. From the absurd amount of cat and dog puns that are more forced than the drama on American Idol, to the just not funny jokes coming either from the main dog (who I am certain is probably missing his brain) to the pigeon that supposedly works for the big "bad" of this movie (and no, I do not really care why a bird works for a cat, but it is really stupid, that is for sure.) I wish I could say maybe the CGI is good, but no, it looks like the same half-hearted attempts they use in Asylum films, and worst of all it couldn't be less convincing that the animals are talking unless you just made them ALL CGI, instead of using real cats and dogs. Sure, I know people try and use the stupid excuse, "But its for kids, can't you let it just be that?" No, I can't, because while there are still being great, incredible kid films being made and released (just think Lion King or How to Train Your Dragon) that not only are really, really enjoyable for children, but just so for adults, then I cannot stand while crap like this is being made. No, this film has nothing redeeming about it, from the story that has no point except to make puns and make my brain scream, or to the "jokes" that couldn't be funny if George Carlin told them, nothing works in this film. And those adults who do claim that they went and saw this and actually enjoyed it, I do pity you all, and hope one day you meet a good movie (like Robocop or Terminator 2) and just...grow up.

For a children's film, 'Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore' is pretty much the usual generic flick. Kids would enjoy it and the adults who watch it with them might enjoy some of it. I for one enjoyed the references, especially the one to 'Silence of the Lambs'. While the human characters are boring and clichéd, most of the cats and dogs and the pigeon are likable. The voice casting (that includes stars like James Marsden, Christina Applegate, Bette Midler, Nick Nolte, Sean Hayes and more) is good too. There's plenty of action and high-tech gadgets (even though they are mostly nonsensical). Even though some of the jokes made me laugh, the writing is very amateurish. Plot holes are abundant. This really is a movie for kids (who don't question logic or the lack of it). It's downright forgettable but certainly not among the worst to come out that year.