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Just when you thought the Cold War was old news, a new conspiracy theory is trotting it's way across the backyards of America. This conflict is as old as the animal kingdom itself but never has so much been at stake. While humans go blissfully about their business, it's the family pets keeping an eye on the state of world peace.

Hunkered down in his basement lab, Professor Brody (Jeff Goldblum) is on the verge of perfecting a breakthrough vaccination that will eliminate dog allergies and cinch their supremacy as household pets. But an evil plot by the power-hungry Persian, Mr. Tinkles (voice by Sean Hayes), threatens to block the Professor's success and put cats in control of the world. Under the leadership of seasoned spy veteran, Butch (voice by Alec Baldwin), a group of highly trained canine infiltrators wages war on the deviant fur balls using the latest computer and military technology. But the odds are tipped in favor of the cats when the Brody family's dog goes missing and is replaced by a novice pup. Lou (voice by Toby Maguire) is full of bravado but comes up short on the secret agent training. Soon this James Bond wannabe has Butch and his gang running circles to stay ahead of him while they keep a close surveillance on the conniving kitties.

The romping action scenes and nasty activities of Mr. Tinkles and his cohorts (including locking a family in a burning building and the ill treatment of Tinkles bed-ridden master) are concerns for young and impressionable viewers. But older children, particularly dog owners, will likely get caught up in cheering the interspecies espionage. With the majority of the jokes aimed at the average 10-year-old most tag-a-long parents will be more interested in the lively combination of real animals, computer animation and the occasional puppet.

After exposing the worldwide threat of feline domination, Cats & Dogs makes me doggone glad that the canines are on our side.

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Talk about the movie with your family...

In the movie, Professor Brody struggles to spend time with his son. Besides being busy with his research, do you think he felt awkward playing sports with his son? To Scott (Alexander Polluck), was it more important that his dad was a great soccer player or that they spent time playing together?

To make this movie, more computerized imaging tools were developed. These new techniques allowed the production staff to "scan" an entire animal, then take that data and manipulate it in any way they desired. To learn more about the digital technologies involved, check the movie's extensive web site at http://catsanddogsmovie.warnerbros.com.

Want more information on allergies? Visit howstuffworks.com for information about allergies.

Cats & Dogs has similar themes to the family movie Spy Kids, about two children who become secret agents to save their parents and Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, which also features talking cats and dogs. For another movie that makes reference to ancient Egypt, check our review of The Prince Of Egypt.

Kerry Bennett

© 2001 One Voice Communications. All Rights Reserved

Making The Grades...

The MPAA rated Cats & Dogs PG for animal action and humor.

Overall: B+
Fur flies in this action packed secret agent thriller about fearless canines who are out to protect the world from the evil designs of those nasty cats.

Violence: B-
This movie contains numerous scenes of dogs chasing cats. Includes man knocked over by dog, dog runs into tree, dog swings small tree with cat in it, cat is catapulted from tree and thrown through kitchen window, dog is also thrown through window and both animals hit a woman, animals chase through house and cause household items to fall and break, pie hits person in face, person chases dog with a broom, cat lying on road as if dead, dog is kidnapped, dog catapults through air and into barn wall, dog falls and object falls on him, man licks dog on mouth, dog bone blows up, man uses pistol like gun to inject self with vaccination, person breaks out in large hives on face and hands, planes drop ninja cats on neighborhood and they attack a home, cat uses explosives, window broken with ball, woman hits man, cat coughs up hairballs that turn into various weapons, dog dung is shown on carpet, spiked weapon shoots nail like objects at animals, cat outfitted with military weapons, bookcase nearly falls on animal who is trapped beneath it, dog is thrown around by a boomerang, bomb is activated, animal smashed against wall by a door, dogs shown marking a fire hydrant and smelling one another, animal scares woman and orders her locked in a closet, car drives erratically, animal is flattened against window pane, sleeping gas bomb explodes in car, dogs attack cat, animals shown in high speed vehicle, dogs blown up cat dummy, dogs drink out of toilets, animals discuss fate of human family, dog beat up by cat thugs, swerving car knocks animal around, cats steal valuable object, people are kidnapped and tied up, discussion of having a real gun but nothing is shown, extended scene of animals discussing plot to take over the world, building starts on fire with people and animals locked inside, cat eats mouse, cat attempts to crush animal in a crane claw, animal hits against glass pane, large building and machine explode with animals inside, animal appears to be dead.

Sexual Content: A-
Dog smells another dog, appropriate affection shown between mother and child, hugging between married couple, animal discusses former relationship with another dog.

Language: B
Includes some name calling as well as at least 5 mild slang terms and 4 terms of Deity used as expletives.

Alcohol / Drug Use: A-
Scientist attempts to develop an anti-allergy serum, seen injecting himself on at least two occasions.

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