Films - HOTEL FOR DOGS


Hotel for Dogs Universal

See all showtimes for all Blackburn cinemas >>

When their new guardians forbid 16-year old Andi and her younger brother, Bruce to have a pet, Andi has to use her quick wit to help find a new home for their dog, Friday. The resourceful kids stumble upon an abandoned hotel and using Bruce's talents as a mechanical genius, transform it into a magical dog-paradise for Friday--and eventually for all Friday's friends. When barking dogs make the neighbours suspicious, Andi and Bruce use every invention they have to avoid anyone discovering "who let the dogs in."

A motley group of talented canines outperform the humans in a heartwarming little comedy.

Story

Two orphaned kids, Andi (Emma Roberts) and her mechanical whiz of a younger brother Bruce (Jake T. Austin) live in a foster home with a couple of ageing wannabe rock stars (Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon) who are vehemently anti-pet. Running out of ways to keep their stray pooch Friday hidden in plain sight, they stumble on to an abandoned hotel that turns out to be the perfect shelter for Friday - and transform the place into luxury accommodations for all sorts of unwanted pets they spring from the local pound and the streets. But can they stay one step ahead of the law while keeping this United Nations of dogs in line?

Acting

Human actors don't have a chance against the gifted assortment of canines. With dogs of every breed from a border collie who loves to herd sheep (don't ask) to an English bulldog obsessed with chewing stuff, the trainers deliver a cast that flawlessly pulls off every dog trick in the book. Fortunately, Roberts (Nancy Drew) and Austin are winning and likeable as the two main kids who share a need for family with their four-legged counterparts. Kudrow and Dillon don't get a whole lot to do in strictly stereotyped roles, but Don Cheadle as the kids' social worker adds a nice touch of dignity and warmth to the story.

Direction

For his first American feature, German director Thor Freudenthal got the supreme challenge: working with kids and animals. Getting this furry menagerie to act on cue could not have been easy but Freundenthal and his talented trainers make it look so. Particularly amusing are the various gadgets and elaborate contraptions Bruce builds to keep the doggies occupied and quiet -- including simulated car windows they can stick their heads out of, portable toilets, complicated feeding machines and on and on. Just like the current hit Marley & Me, it's a funny and heartwarming family comedy.

Bottom Line

Hollywood.com rated this film 3 stars.

  • Cast:Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, Don Cheadle
  • Director:Thor Freudenthal
  • Producer:Jack Leslie, Lauren Shuler Donner, Jonathan Gordon Ewan Leslie
  • Writer:Lois Duncan, Jeff Lowell
  • Duration:100
  • Official Site:http://www.hotelfordogsmovie.com/
  • Release:In Cinemas Now
  • Genre:Comedy, Action/Adventure
  • Distributor:DreamWorks Pictures

Your sayYour Citizen

comment Add your comment

Register for a FREE Blackburn Citizen account and you can have your say on today's news and sport by adding comments on articles we publish. The best comments may even get published in the paper.

Please register now or sign in below to continue.


NOW SHOWING IN:

Blackburn CINEMAS

Local advertisers

Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »