It's hard to know who thought it would be a good idea to make a live-action version of Disney's animated classic, 101 Dalmatians (and originally Dodie Smith's classic children's story). The one bright notion anyone had was casting Glenn Close as Disney Übervillainess Cruella de Vil; her flashing eyes and angular features are a perfect match and do credit to what is one of the most indelible animated characters Disney has ever created. The story remains essentially the same, focusing on Cruella's plot to kidnap the puppies of a young married couple (Jeff Daniels and... Joely Richardson) and make them into a coat. But the dreaded John Hughes, who wrote this script, fills it with sadistic slapstick and far too few genuine laughs. The human actors work hard, but to little avail; thankfully, there's a posse of puppies to regularly steal scenes when the going gets dreary--although there are only so many laughs to be had from inappropriate dog puddles. --Marshall Fine, Amazon.com Don't be fooled by the title, there are four reasons to like 102 Dalmatians, the sequel to the successful live-action remake of Disney's 101 Dalmatians. There are the 101 spotted pooches, Glenn Close back in fine form as Cruella DeVil, Oddball--the spotless Dalmatian pup--and Waddlesworth, a parrot who thinks he's a rottweiler (and is voiced by Monty Python's Eric Idle). There are just as many reasons to be disappointed: like most sequels, the story line is virtually a rewrite of t he first; the secondary casting isn't as interesting; the dialogue merely serves to move the plot along; and the third act substitutes mean-spiritedness for comedy. After a period of rehabilitation, Cruella has returned to her old tricks. Once again, she simply must have a spotted coat and will go to any lengths to get hold of the 102 Dalmatians needed to make one with a hood. She sets her sights on the pups owned by her probation officer, Chloe (Alice Evans), and the owner of a local animal shelter, Kevin (Ioan Gruffudd). Her servant Alonso (Tim McInnerny) and flamboyant furrier Monsieur Le Pelt (Gerard Depardieu, in one ridiculous outfit after another) are drafted to aid in her quest. It should come as no surprise that Chloe and Kevin fall in love, Oddball helps to save the day and Cruella is defeated. Children should enjoy the animal high jinks, but adults are less likely to be enamoured by this perfectly competent, but relatively charmless affair. --Kathleen C Fennessy, Amazon.com. [show more]
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