The story centers on a siblings Andi (Emma Roberts) and Bruce (Jake T. Austin). They are orphans who have bounced around from foster family to foster family, struggling to stay together. Through the years since the loss of their parents their one steady companion has been Friday, their pet Boston Terrier and one of the cleverest pups you will ever find. Currently, they have to hide their beloved pet from their current foster parents as they are less than keen on dogs and only seem to be in the fostering game for some additional income. This couple of would-be rockers is played by Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon.
Anyway, while out spending some time together and wondering how much longer they will be able to hide Friday. Fortune strikes when the siblings are led into an old abandoned hotel where a couple of strays have taken up residence. The grand hotel gives them a grand idea, they will keep Friday here and then, to take it a step further, bring any strays they can find to the protection of the hotel before the dog catcher can take them to the pound.
With the hotel taken over by runaway canines, there comes a necessity for help, which comes in the form of a couple of teens working a local pet store where they have very flexible hours and easy access to whatever they need. Together the quartet work to make the building a little more hospitable to the new tenants by building all manner of Rube Goldberg-esque contraptions to see to their every need. All manner of gadgets are created to deal with issues of food, waste, and fun, all of them seemingly easily mastered by any and all dogs that see it.
The performances are fine all around, nothing extraordinary but Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin do well in their sibling roles. A little credibility is brought to the picture with Don Cheadle appearing as the dedicated social worker who helps Andi and Bruce out of trouble. No, not exactly a challenge for the skilled actor, but it is nice to see him in a role like this.
Hotel for Dogs is a pleasant enough experience, and one that proves to be a nicely cathartic experience for anyone traumatized by Marley & Me. Is this destined to be remembered? Probably not, but it is a well-meaning film that does not deserve to be attacked by being what it is. It is a nice family film and it succeeds at that.
Bottomline. I have seen this film criticized for not being a realistic portrayal of what it is like to take care of a dog. It is a ridiculous argument as this film is a fantasy meant to accentuate the positives of a family's love and the lengths to which you would go to preserve it. Sure it is simple, just sit back and enjoy.
Mildly Recommended.
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