Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996)

One of the most memorably offbeat romantic comedies of the 1990s begins when a talk-radio veterinarian named Abby (Janeane Garofalo) takes a call from Brian (Ben Chaplin), the owner of a roller-skating Great Dane. Brian is intrigued by Abby's voice and asks if she'll agree to meet him. Insecure about her looks and her nonexistent love life, Abby agrees, but describes herself as a tall blonde, then begs her attractive neighbor Noelle (played by Uma Thurman) to meet with Brian in her place. The ensuing case of switched identity is complicated when Noelle takes a liking to Brian who, of course, thinks she is Abby. This confusion gains comedic momentum when Abby safely plays herself on the radio and in a long, hilariously seductive phone call with Brian, but by now the situation has grown hopelessly complex, and Abby has to find a way to reveal herself without disappointing Brian. Many viewers rightly complained that the movie relies on the assumption that Abby is unattractive, even though Garofalo is more attractive and appealing here than she'd been in several movies before and since. Still, this contemporary variation on Cyrano de Bergerac is a lightweight, good-natured surprise that values the quirks and foibles that make lovelorn romantics (including their pets) uniquely appealing. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

The Truth About The Truth About Cats & Dogs

This movie is a romcom, AKA romantic comedy, and the twist is that the smart, short girl gets the guy, not the tall blonde model, Noelle (Uma Thurman). Dr. Abby Barnes (Janeane Garofalo) is a veterinarian with a call in radio show, but low self esteem when it comes to men. Brian (Ben Chaplin) is a caller with a dog problem. He got a big dog from the pound for a photo shoot, and put the pooch on roller skates. The dog is destroying the house, but he can't get him off the skates. Abby talks him through it, and he ends up bonding with the dog. He tries to arrange a face-to-face meeting, to thank her, and also, because he is attracted to her. Duh. She doesn't show up for the rendezvous, but then a series of seemingly random events conspire to make him think that Abby's attractive neighbor Noelle is the woman he has been speaking to.

Janeane is used to playing the friend. In Reality Bites, she was really a hoot, but the story focused on Winona Ryder. She was just the back story, an after thought, really. Even though she had a lot going on, it was all Winona, Winona, Winona. In this film, however, they really get you to be more interested in Abby, and Noelle is cute and a nice if not too bright person, but she is so boring that you are really more attracted to Abby, and you don't even notice that they never even tie the loose ends up with Noelle and the jerks she dates, like Roy. Maybe she could've hooked up with Ed (Jamie Foxx), Brian's friend. I'm surprised that she didn't hook up with anyone, but the story is really about Brian and Abby, and they live happily ever after (or don't, just so I am not spoiling the end for anyone who hasn't seen this).

This is a well made romcom and I wasn't asking too much of it, but neither was I disappointed. Garofalo wise cracks her way through with much aplomb, but seeing her jokes on paper, they aren't nearly as funny. Guess it is just her deadpan delivery and comic timing. Another thing I will say is that they handled the preposterous plot well, and didn't just get sloppy and think, who cares? This is just a romcom. Preposterous, yes, but plausible the way it was filmed, and they never ignore the laws of physics or violate the time-space continuum.

The movie also has cute cats & dogs. Abby has a cat that looks just like my cat, Felix. A fluffy black and white cat with a cute black nose. Hank is the big dog that Brian adopts. Hank is kind of like Marmaduke, the dog in the newspaper comics. It was good, but I am only giving it 3 stars.

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Uma Thurman .... Noelle

The Accidental Husband (2008) .... Dr. Emma Lloyd

The Life Before Her Eyes (2007) .... Diana McFee

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006) .... Jenny Johnson / G-Girl

The Producers (2005) .... Ulla

Prime (2005) .... Rafi Gardet

Be Cool (2005) .... Edie Athens

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) .... Beatrix Kiddo - The Bride, 'Black Mamba'

Paycheck (2003) .... Dr. Rachel Porter

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) .... The Bride

Hysterical Blindness (2002) (TV) .... Debby Miller

Chelsea Walls (2001) .... Grace

Tape (2001) .... Amy Randall

The Golden Bowl (2000) .... Charlotte Stant

Vatel (2000) .... Anne de Montausier

Sweet and Lowdown (1999) .... Blanche

The Avengers (1998) .... Emma Peel

Misérables, Les (1998) .... Fantine

Gattaca (1997) .... Irene Cassini

Batman & Robin (1997) .... Poison Ivy / Dr. Pamela Isley

Beautiful Girls (1996) .... Andera

A Month by the Lake (1995) .... Miss Beaumont

Pulp Fiction (1994) .... Mia Wallace

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993) .... Sissy Hankshaw

Mad Dog and Glory (1993) .... Glory

Jennifer Eight (1992) .... Helena Robertson

Final Analysis (1992) .... Diana Baylor

Robin Hood (1991/I) (TV) .... Maid Marian

Henry & June (1990) .... June Miller

Where the Heart Is (1990) .... Daphne McBain

Dangerous Liaisons (1988) .... Cécile de Volanges

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) .... Venus/Rose

Kiss Daddy Goodnight (1988) .... Laura

Johnny Be Good (1988) .... Georgia Elkans

Kaze no tani no Naushika (1984) (voice: English version) .... Kushana

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Janeane Garofalo .... Dr. Abby Barnes

Reality Bites (10th Anniversary Edition) (1994) .... Vickie Miner

The Cable Guy (Full Screen) (1996) .... Medieval Times Waitress

Touch (1997) / Movie (1997) .... Kathy Worthington. Not the same as Ben Chaplin's film with Michelle Yeoh, but this one has Tom Arnold, Christopher Walken, Bridgett Fonda, John Doe (of X), Gina Gershon, and LL Cool J.

Cop Land (1997) .... Deputy Cindy Betts

Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997) .... Heather Mooney

Dog Park (1998) .... Jeri

Mystery Men (1999) .... The Bowler. A super hero spoof with Ben Stiller and Hank Azira.

Ratatouille (2007) (voice) .... Colette

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Ben Chaplin .... Brian

The Remains of the Day (Special Edition) (1993) .... Charlie, Head Footman

Birthday Girl (2001) .... John. Ben Chaplin co-starred with Nicole Kidman.

Murder by Numbers (2002) .... Sam Kennedy. Here Ben is opposite Sandra Bullock.

The Touch (2002) .... Eric. Michelle Yeoh and Ben this time.

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Jamie Foxx .... Ed

Booty Call (1997) .... Bunz

Ray (Widescreen Edition) (2004/I) .... Ray Charles. Jamie was awesome as Ray Charles, and for that he won a well deserved Oscar.

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I thought there would be some good quotes from this, some of Garofalo's zingers, but looking back, I couldn't find any. So here's one from another movie.

A Few Good Men:

Kaffee: I want the truth!
Col. Jessep: [shouts] You can't handle the truth!

July 2, 2008

IT'S ONLY ME BUT:

GREAT LIGHT HEARTED ROMANTIC MOVIE ABOUT TWO FIREND. ONE A TAALL BLOND AND ONE A SHORT BRUNET. THE SHORT BRUNET THINKS SHE HAS TO BE A TALL BLOND TO FIND LOVE. JM June 1, 2008

I love this movie

This was one of the first movies i saw as a teenager, great laughs, a little sad at parts over all one of my favorite movies!! I would recommend to any woman February 10, 2008

Truth about cats & dogs

The Truth About Cats & Dogs is one of my all time favorite "chick flicks" I am the short girl with the stunning girlfriend. This movie appeals to me on several levels. The "judging the book by the cover" theme is real. This still happens no matter how accepting we think we are. The movie is great fun, and helps see through the myths to the reality. January 18, 2008

Good movie

A very nice date movie. Suggest get it as it explores that meaning of love that it actually can be blind and appearances do not necessarily seem what they actually are.

November 18, 2007

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