The Truth About Cats and Dogs
Ever since The Truth About Cats and Dogs came out, I have always wanted to see it. I never got around to it because I had all sorts of things to do. Finally, I went with a couple of my friends to see it. It was a Monday night in the dollar theaters, and it was packed! I wondered how good this film could be. I found out. It was hilarious! I was wondering why Janeane Garofalo's name wasn't first. I just figured that she wasn't a big star yet and Uma Thurman was.
But this is Garofalo's movie. She shines as Abby, a radio personality who helps people with their pets. Soon, a mysterious man calls in with a problem about a dog... on rollerskates. I couldn't stop laughing watching this scene unfold. The moment is very original (though the movie takes from Cyrano but that movie was stupid) and very funny. The caller is played by Ben Chaplin who becomes obsessed with Garofalo. He visits her at the studio (I'll explain later), sends her flowers and a picture of his dog, and finally asks her out.
However, she stands him up and he comes to the studio. A woman from Garofalo's apartment (played by Uma Thurman) is mistaken by him as Abby. The real Abby tells her to play along. Abby now becomes Donna and Thurman becomes Abby. This is were Cyrano comes in. Abby (Garofalo) tells Abby (Thurman) what to say to him. But the funniest part of this movie is the phone conversation. Most people have heard about this and I expected it to be more disgusting. However, I found it amusing and funny.
The actors are all top-notch, especially Janeane Garofalo. I haven't heard of her before, but I have seen her on SNL. I thought she was cute and funny on that as well. However, this is the movie that will make her a star. She is charming and witty. She feels self-conscious about her appearance but she doesn't have to be. She thinks men want Thurman's looks but that's where the movie shines. It makes girls in the audience yearn for Garofalo's intellect than for Thurman's body. However, Thurman is very good as the ditsy model. It is actually a turn-around from some of her other performances (i.e. Pulp Fiction). Ben Chaplin is great as the caller who falls for the girls' scheme.
The Truth About Cats and Dogs is rated PG-13. This is probably because of the phone conversation and some language. There was even a scene where Thurman says, "I'd f*** ya." I almost gasped (a movie that uses the f-word in a sexual term automatically gets the R rating from the MPAA). It didn't bother me for long though, because the scene was hilarious. This is not very appropriate for kids under maybe 15. But that's Hollywood for ya.