If you're looking for a fun-filled movie to take your little brother or sister to over the Thanksgiving break, or if you're feeling the need to regress after three months of heavy-duty college stress, Disney's all-new 102 Dalmatians might be just what you're looking for.
It's the sequel to the 1996 live-action remake of 101 Dalmatians, this time with our spotted friends running from the ever-notorious Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close) on the streets of Paris. The film opens with Cruella being released from a London prison after three years of rehabilitation, vowing never to have anything to do with fur again. But when the clock on Big Ben tolls and time runs out, Cruella reverts back to her evil ways and begins to form yet another "fur-ocious" plot to get her ultimate Dalmatian coat. This time, she decides to aim for a hooded coat - hence the need for the 102nd Dalmatian.
As with any generic kids' film, the characters are all connected in some way, and the main Dalmatian family from the original movie is reintroduced in the sequel. Civil worker Chloe Simon, owner of Dipstick and Dottie (the parents of the original 101 Dalmatians), happens to be De Vil's parole officer. She keeps a close eye on De Vil, all the while remaining skeptical of the convicted criminal's shocking transformation to a puppy-lover once released from prison.
The plot thickens when De Vil purchases the Second Chance Dog Shelter, bringing Kevin, the very charming shelter manager (played by fast-rising British star Ioan Gruffudd) into the picture. Sparks fly when Chloe and Kevin meet, offering the film its quintessential romantic element. Together they discover De Vil's evil ploy and set out to save their Dalmatian pups. Although the first dinner date scene between Chloe and Kevin borders on lame even for the most hopeless romantics, it may be condoned simply because the film is, after all, targeted for audiences under the age of ten.
The film does feature a top-notch cast, with Close and Gerard Depardieu as the antagonistic duo of Cruella De Vil and fur fashion designer Jean Pierre Le Pelt. Along with DeVil's sidekick valet, Alonso (Tim McInnery), the three pose as the "bad guys," but also add to the film's light-hearted and adventurous comedy when they ultimately fail miserably in their fiendish attempts.
No Disney film would truly be complete without a number of memorable animal characters, and 102 Dalmatians is filled with them, including a hairless Chihuahua with the ironic name of Fluffy, an adorable spotless Dalmatian pup named Oddball, and a talking parrot who insists he is a dog. Using real-life animals and a fair share of computer animation, the cinematography is nothing new or spectacular, but is sufficient for a film of this genre.
On a whole, this sequel contains many of the same antics of the original blockbuster, with a close-call chase scene culminating in De Vil's ruin - only it happens this time in a pastry factory. The humor is elementary, but the blooper-type occurrences still garner a few laughs from the older members of the audience.
Bottom line: 102 Dalmatians is not incredibly deep, but it does combine comedy, fantasy, and adventure to make for some fun entertainment. If you have a bit of time to spare over the break, it may be worth your time to wander over to the nearest theater with some kiddies and catch a matinee showing.
