Though I’m usually a sucker for children’s films, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore wasn’t exactly at the top of my must-see list. Given the high-caliber of other children’s offerings that audiences, young and old alike, have been treated to all summer (with the exception of Marmaduke of course), I thought that a Cats & Dogs sequel was an exceptionally risky choice among Warner Bros.’ summer line-up. The first Cats & Dogs was released in 2001, meaning that a majority of this film’s target audience wasn’t even born yet when the concept of canine spies was originally introduced; plus, those children who loved the original would probably rather go see Dinner for Schmucks at this point in their lives. I’m totally a dog person, but even I have my limits; my attendance at this film was solely for the good of the blog.
Admittedly, my expectations weren’t that high, and I never saw all of the original Cats & Dogs, but this sequel was a disappointment nevertheless. To be fair, Revenge of Kitty Galore is clearly a film that panders to small children, as they will delight in watching the animals on-screen and the silly jokes that are thrown together with just enough imagination that it’s easy to see why kids would go nuts. Unfortunately, unlike Despicable Me or Toy Story 3, there is little to enjoy for audience members who are no longer in elementary school. Hoping for a strong story may have been a little much, but given Hollywood’s latest capabilities with computer technology, I was severely disappointed by the low quality of animation effects presented. Revenge of Kitty Galore definitely missed the mark on humor and heart, and though I’m sure kids will love it, anyone taking these kids to the theater can preserve a little dignity by choosing a different family film.
For more information, please read the full review.
Overall Recommendation: Very Low
