`The Truth About Cats and Dogs' is your typical romantic comedy
The Truth About Cats and Dogs , is a reiteration of the truth about birds and bees: Guy meets girl; guy's hormones act up; guy thinks he is in love. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Most of human history is the retelling of that story.
This film attempts to prove the cliché that beauty is more than skin deep. It fails to demonstrate that love is more than superficial; it fails to demonstrate that this film is more than superficial and it uses every other cliché in the book in its attempt. That having been said, The Truth about Cats and Dogs is a fun romantic comedy, which can be delightful if viewed in the right mood.
Abby Barnes (Janeane Garofalo), a veterinarian who hosts a talk radio show called "The Truth about Cats and Dogs," has no love life. However, she's brilliant, fun and incredibly talented. Her neighbor, Noelle (Uma Thurman), a tall blond model who aspires to be an anchorperson, has a love life that's absolutely horrible. Noelle is beautiful, kind and generous, but not very intelligent.
A sensitive photographer named Brian, played by Ben Chaplin (the latest Hugh Grant wannabe), calls in to Barnes' show seeking help when a dog wearing roller skates threatens to ruin his photo shoot. He's so impressed with her advice that he asks Barnes out. She is about to agree until he utters the infamous "What do you look like?" Resolved not to go through another heartbreak, she describes herself as a tall, beautiful blonde (inspired by her neighbor as well as the usual stereotypes) and plans to stand him up.
We also understand Abby well. The shield she holds up to protect herself from being hurt is one that everyone wears. However, the only disappointing character is Brian. It's so important for him to be the "perfect man" to both both Abby and Noelle that he is allowed to have too few imperfections and faults.
The best performances of the film belong to the animals. Abby's cat and Brian's dog (who does surprisingly well in stunts considering he was rescued from a pound for his role in the film) are absolutely irresistable. The radio sequences are also classic, as is the "phone sex" scene that is surprisingly risky in tackling a taboo subject -- at least for a mainstream romantic comedy.
The truth about The Truth About Cats and Dogs is that it doesn't break new ground. But it's a cute film, and if you go into it willing to suspend all disbelief, you'll leave the theater satisfied.
This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the April 26, 1996 issue.
Copyright © 1996 The Rice Thresher. All Rights
Reserved.
This document may be distributed
electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety
and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted
without the express written permission of:
The Rice
Thresher, Rice University, 6100 Main, Houston, TX 77005-1892, USA.
The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@rice.edu