It's still only October, but I'll go ahead and say it: "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" is the best film of 2008 starring a purse dog.
A comic adventure featuring loads of action, winning voice performances and a welcome message about tapping one's personal power, the PG-rated "Chihuahua" will engage adults as well as kids. If the plot is by the numbers, well, that's probably to be expected from Disney ("Lady and the Tramp"; "101 Dalmatians"), a studio that long ago worked out its canine cuteness/imperilment ratio.
Drew Barrymore voices the role of Chloe, a Chihuahua so pampered her paws literally never touch the ground (she wears booties). Chloe's owner, Viv (Jamie Lee Curtis), dresses the pooch in jewels and sunglasses and surrounds her with other overly coiffed purebreds.
Curtis operates her own mouth, but Chloe speaks with the help of computer-generated effects. Though the words match the movement, the effect seems a bit off at first – Barrymore's relaxed cadences don't quite fit a dog with such a big attitude. But Barrymore's soft delivery suits Chloe in later scenes, when the dog is lost in Mexico and dependent on the kindness of four-legged strangers.
George Lopez, by contrast, is always perfection as Papi, helpmate to Viv's landscaper, Sam (Manolo Cardona), and more down to earth than his fellow Chihuahua, Chloe. But he loves Chloe anyway, vowing to cherish and protect her forever. Lopez's emphatic line readings suit this alert, confident and chivalrous dog.
When Viv departs for a business trip, she leaves Chloe in the care of her niece, Rachel (Piper Perabo). Apparently unaware Chloe already has her schedule filled with ladies' lunches and pedi-pedi appointments, Rachel takes the dog with her to Mexico, where Chloe escapes the hotel and ends up in the clutches of a dog-fighting outfit.
The script by Analisa LaBianco and Jeff Bushell enters iffy territory by initially painting Mexico as a haven for criminals. But as the story spreads out to encompass Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta and Aztec ruins, "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" offers a fuller – as well as rather picturesque – idea of the country.
Human characters, regardless of national origin, serve as mere framing devices for well-choreographed canine exploits. Through accomplished animal wrangling, computer effects and deft direction by Raja Gosnell ("Scooby-Doo"), the dogs look fairly natural whether conversing or jumping onto moving trains.
But what really sells the picture is lively voice work, including Plácido Domingo's wisdom-infused performance as Monte, a Chihuahua leader who encourages Chloe to remember the breed's proud history.
Andy Garcia is sublime as Delgado, a German shepherd who busts Chloe out of the dog-fighting lair and becomes her reluctant protector. Speaking with a raspy authority that evokes Humphrey Bogart as well as MacGruff the Crime Dog, Garcia invests Delgado with physical prowess, valor and good humor.
None of the amazing canines in "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" represents a real example of its breed, of course. As a reminder of this – and perhaps to discourage a boost in sales of purebred puppies like the one that followed the release of "101 Dalmatians" – the studio includes a note about pet adoptions and responsible animal ownership at the end of the film.
Call Bee movie critic Carla Meyer, (916) 321-1118. Hear her discuss the week's movies at 4:40 p.m. on Fridays on NewsTalk 1530 (KFBK).
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
3 starsCAST: Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona, Jamie Lee Curtis
DIRECTOR: Raja Gosnell
WRITERS: Analisa LaBianco and Jeff Bushell
THEATERS: Century (Downtown Plaza, Folsom, Greenback, Roseville), Regal (Auburn, El Dorado Hills, Natomas, Placerville), UA (Laguna, Market Square), Holiday Davis
86 minutes
Rated PG (some mild thematic elements)
