Cats & Dogs (2001)
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A secret war between cats and dogs is waged through high-tech espionage while humans remain completely unaware.
The story
Unbeknownst to humans, cats and dogs are highly intelligent enemies waging war with covert operations mirroring human espionage. When the Brody family's pet Bloodhound Buddy goes missing, it is revealed he was an agent captured by enemy cats while trying to protect research on a dog allergy cure. Canine agents are dispatched to ensure the research is completed. Meanwhile, Brody's wife Carolyn adopts a Beagle puppy named Lou. After a series of events, Butch, an experienced canine agent, mistakes Lou for a trained operative and brings him into the dogs' underground network to undergo training.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Cats and dogs wage a secret war using espionage tactics. When agent Buddy is captured by cats while protecting Dr. Brody's allergy research, other dogs are sent to help. Brody's wife Carolyn adopts a Beagle puppy, Lou, who is mistakenly taken by agent Butch to the dog underground for training. The leader of the cats, Mr. Tinkles, plans to use the research to conquer the world. Lou foils a theft by cat ninjas and meets former agent Ivy. When a Russian Blue cat mercenary, Dimitri Kennelkoff, tries to destroy the lab, Butch captures him. Lou and Scotty accidentally ruin the lab but create the allergy cure. Mr. Tinkles lures the Brodys out with fake tickets and demands the research as ransom. The dogs refuse, but Lou and Butch agree to a trade, only to be double-crossed. The dogs track Tinkles to a factory where he plans to spread a mass-produced allergy. While the dogs fight the cat forces, Lou frees the Brodys and Calico. Lou defeats Tinkles but is injured in an explosion that destroys the factory. Lou is reunited with the Brodys and decides to live a normal life until he is old enough to be a full-grown agent. Tinkles is sent to live with a maid who dresses him in humiliating outfits.
- First release year
- 2001
- Runtime (minutes)
- 87
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lawrence Guterman
- Writers
- John Requa · writer; Glenn Ficarra · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jeff Goldblum · Charles Brody (credited as "Professor Brody"); Elizabeth Perkins · Carolyn Brody (credited as "Mrs. Brody"); Alexander Pollock · Scott "Scotty" Brody; Miriam Margolyes · Sophie; Myron Natwick · Mr. Mason; Tobey Maguire · Louis "Lou" Brody; Alec Baldwin · Butch; Sean Hayes · Mr. Tinkles
- Genres
- spy comedy; action adventure; children's; buddy comedy; action comedy; adventure comedy; action adventure
- Themes
- Espionage; Family; Rivalry; Secret Wars
- Tone and mood
- Comedy; Action; Slapstick
- Premise and plot tags
- Spy; Talking Animals; Buddy Comedy; Action; Adventure
- Source material / true-story basis
- A pitch from The Angry Beavers writers John Requa and Glenn Ficarra
- Franchise connections
- Cats & Dogs
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews, with a 52% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 47/100 score on Metacritic. It was described as a witty and sophisticated spy movie spoof by some, while others found it irritating and childish.
- Awards and nominations
- Young Artist Award · Best Feature Film (Comedy) · 2001 · Nominated; Young Artist Award · Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor · 2001 · Nominated; ASCAP Award · musical contribution · 2001 · Won; Razzie Award · Worst Supporting Actor · 2001 · Won
- Production trivia
- The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia and Eagle Creek Studios in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.; The film features visual effects by Rhythm & Hues Studios, known for films such as Stuart Little, Mouse Hunt, and Hocus Pocus.; An alternate ending that shows Sophie instead taking Mr. Tinkles to a pet hospital to be neutered was also included as one of the extras.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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