Hotel for Dogs (2009)

I really enjoyed this movie and thought it was very sweet; I had some laughs, and cried when I saw Andi and Bruce pulled apart. I thought of how great it was that they were willing to stay with the dogs even when they, Andi and Bruce, were offered a home. Since the beginning of the movie, Andi and Bruce really loved Friday, and they then grew to love the dogs they rescued and brought to the hotel. Everything those kids, and their friends, had done for those dogs, orphaned dogs, was really nice. They had all formed one big, happy family.Now, I absolutely loved the contraptions. They were really creative. Some that I really enjoyed were: the treadmills for the dogs, the peeing fire hydrant and pooping toilets, and the food serving at the lunch/dinner table.

Hotel for Dogs started out like a charming family film that turns into a downhill movie so fast that at the end of the movie, I didn't much care for the movie itself. Hotel for Dogs stars Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin as foster kids going through Social Services. With a empty heart of love toward their surrounding, since they leave in a harsh environment. So, they run away and they find a rundown, abandon hotel. After finding the hotel, they soon capture puppies and dogs. But, that's where the story is certainly about. These kids picking dogs that are strays. Now, after seeing this movie, I started wondered what would happened if they got caught for stealing dogs,especially stray dogs. Hotel for Dogs has a heart for kids and animal-lovers, but to me, I was thinking about that statement in my head. In other words, this movie said, "It's OK to pick up stray dogs on the streets, alleyways and vacant lots." That is a wrong message, especially in a kids movie. All in all, Hotel for Dogs is a film that tried hard to be good, but leaves a skid mark behind. ★★ 2 stars.

Usually, I don't like films which have real dogs in them. But, Hotel For Dogs came as a real surprise to me. Of course, the plot is predictable, but the actors & the adorable dogs brought this movie some heart. I don't understand the low rating. This movie was made for kids, not for adults, so you shouldn't have expected anything more than the predictable dialogues & happy ending.Andi (Emma Roberts) & Bruce (Jake. T. Austin) are two siblings who have lost their parents & are living in foster homes & the adults in that home are very annoying. One day their dog, Friday goes into an abandoned old hotel & it spends the night there. Somehow, the kids want a real family & they start rescuing dogs from all over the place to help the dogs avoid the pound with the help of their friends, Dave, Heather & Mark. They get into all kinds of trouble with the law.I was babysitting the other day & my little cousin wanted to watch this as soon as he heard it had dogs in them (he's 8 & very cute) & so I had to watch it along with him as no one else wanted to spend time on this with him & I like him (he has two elder sisters & they wouldn't see this, nor babysit him). This is a very fun family film. The acting was good, the dogs were awesome & the contraptions to help the dogs enjoy was cool. Seeing this as he enjoyed really made it good for me. The plot had lot of holes in it; like where did they get the money to feed so many dogs when they couldn't even pay for food for their first dog? And how could they build the hotel for the dogs without the owner's permission & is it really OK to break the law as long as you do it for the cute dogs? This is a kids fantasy after all & I let go of these problems.Lisa Kudrow (from the awesome show 'Friends') really didn't do much in this. Then again, the kids & dogs are the main attraction. Emma Roberts is a girl I loved in Nancy Drew (I was a huge fan of Hardy Boys & Nancy Drew during my teens, still am I suppose) & here also I liked her. The other kids were also OK. I'm a huge fan of Prison Break & did anyone notice Mark was eerily similar with his dialogue delivery & personality to a character in the TV show? If he is not his son, then its weird.6/10

'Hotel For Dogs' is strictly for kids. As an adult, I did not find it much to enjoy. The only reason why I thought it might be worth a watch was because the cast included Don Cheadle and Lisa Kudrow. Sadly, both were horribly wasted. But, Kudrow does look hilarious in that bad rockstar gettup.Even, as a children's film, 'Hotel For Dogs' isn't anywhere close to being memorable. Kids will easily forget this one once they have moved to another movie. The direction is messy. The acting is mostly over-the-top. The story does not have much in terms of structure. Even the poor dogs lack character development. I do hope there won't be a sequel.