Friday, January 29, 2016

The Truth about Cats & Dogs (1996) - David Cross #2

or, At Cross Purposes



Director: Michael Lehmann
  Runtime: 97 minutes              

I'll start by saying I was pleasantly surprised by this movie. Garofalo plays Abby Barnes, a witty veterinarian with a daily radio show titled "The Truth About Cats and Dogs." During the course of a broadcast, a listener, Brian, (played by Ben Chaplin) calls in because he's put a dog in roller skates for a photoshoot, and the dog is just not having it.  Abby helps him out and charms him in the process, leading him to call the studio to ask her out on a date.  Through a comic misunderstanding, Brian is led to believe that Abby's neighbor Noelle (Uma Thurman) is Abby, and Abby is a friend named Donna.  The main romantic plot is pretty by the book: they both develop feelings for Brian (to different degrees), Brian is mystified and the lead man's best friend stock character (played by Jamie Foxx) dutifully reminds him that "he's thinking with his brain too much," Brian eventually discovers the truth, but ends up with Abby because it's a romantic comedy.  

This isn't a great movie, but it's above average, because Garofalo and Thurman are actually interesting characters.  Despite the truly terrible trailer, which seems to suggest that Abby's problem is being too assertive or having high standards, the fact is she's incredibly insecure about her appearance, while Noelle, an exploited ingenue, is insecure about her intelligence. It's the relationship between these two women, and the way they develop, that makes this movie anything more than completely forgettable.  (Nothing against Ben Chaplin, but he's the blandly perfect rom-com stereotype: handsome, artistic, sensitive, and British.  I guess Hugh Grant was busy when they were casting for this film.)  A lot of the jokes are actually funny, and there's a definite charm from the leads.   That said, I can understand why Garofalo hates the movie, and why a lot of people like it.  Roger Ebert, who gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars, wrote: "Of course all movies like this toy a little with the odds. The movie is based upon the presumption that Garofalo is not pretty, and of course she is."
Ebert completely misses the point.  The point isn't that Garofalo is or isn't pretty, it's that she feels ugly because she's surrounded by images of women like Thurman, because a cosmetics saleswoman berates her and reduces her to tears so she can make a sale.  Garofalo points out that this was intended as a small budget indie-movie, but only later became big budget and commercialized, and this is evident. The aspects that make this movie above average are cut short to make room for more of the main romantic plot, and plenty of other 90s mainstream silliness.  The film compromises.  It stops shy of making the points it's aiming towards as an indie film, because mainstream rom-com viewers don't want politics, and you can only mention Simone de Beauvoir to show how intelligent someone is, but actually discussing her philosophy would be boring.  It keeps some of its integrity, Abby and Noelle don't devolve into Jerry Springer-style "She stole my man!" cat-fighting, but are consistently there for each other.  Their relationship is far more interesting than either of their relationships with Brian.  As Garofalo also points out in an interview, the movie was originally going to end with Abby not getting the guy, which make sense, because her whole character arc is about establishing her own sense of self-worth and getting the guy is secondary to this development, but, in the final product, getting the guy is what creates her self-worth. 

 It's an above average movie, but it could have been a great movie.  As for recommendations, if you want to watch a romantic comedy, The Truth about Cats & Dogs is a good choice.


-----------------------

As to the putative reason for these reviews, David Cross, his role is extremely brief.  He's a call in guest on the radio show, a man whose dog, Lucille, has a cold. (Coincidentally, in Destiny Turns on the Radio, Cross played an agent representing a singer named Lucille.)  He also has a brief background cameo with Bob Odenkirk as Bookstore Man.


They're on screen for about ten seconds, nine of which are spent directly behind Thurman and Garofalo.    



Next week: The Cable Guy (1996)




16 comments:

  1. It's been a long time, but I remember thinking this movie would have been better if Brian had been "in on" the deception, and was playing with the two women as much as they were playing with him. . .

    ReplyDelete
  2. I feel like this movie had a lot of potential if only it were kept simple and focus on the romantic aspect was kept to a minimum.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's the equivalent with your very own protection. Be that as it may, I accept that having an arrangement is superior to nothing. see this

    ReplyDelete
  5. Numerous on location facilities will give free or intensely limited administrations for pet proprietors on open help.Mobile Vet

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gatekeeper Dog-A canine that is prepared to monitor a territory. Watchman dogs are regularly utilized on bequests, distribution centers, or open zones that need guarding.best smelling dog shampoo

    ReplyDelete
  7. In the event that you have an indoor/outside cat, as do I, you no uncertainty see him asking as let out, despite the fact that he has his cat entryways. https://catbeep.com/why-are-orange-tabby-cats-so-affectionate/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Plate and litter. You don't need your cat utilizing an edge of your front room as a toilet so consistently ensure you keep his litter box clean. article about emotions

    ReplyDelete
  9. . The Vets would likewise have the option to know whether your cats need something for their wellbeing.
    these facts

    ReplyDelete
  10. The fact of the matter is, they all portray a similar conduct. A terrier is characteristically powerful in its conduct. It is a piece of what makes a terrier, a terrier. how to groom a yorkie with matted hair

    ReplyDelete
  11. they can 'thoroughly consider' things and decide; they have a vocal language and a non-verbal communication; they show feelings; they have memory and in this manner to some degree feeling of history; british shorthair

    ReplyDelete
  12. A dog food dispenser, also known as an automatic dog food dispenser or dog food dispenser machine, is a device designed to automatically dispense a predetermined amount of food for dogs. It provides a convenient and controlled way to feed dogs, especially when the owner is not available or wants to manage their pet's feeding schedule more efficiently.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I appreciate you sharing such an informative post with us. Thinking about becoming a pet groomer? Pet grooming training online allows you to learn everything you need, from tools to techniques, with expert guidance from the comfort of your home. Keep sharing. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete