Recently I’ve noticed something that I don’t think I’ve ever seen happen before: an upsurge in the release of dog movies. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but all of a sudden it seems like dogs are taking over Hollywood.
Take a look at what I mean. Since October, look at how many dog movies that are either already out or are soon to be released:
When I first saw the previews for this movie, I did what I think a lot of people did: rolled my eyes and said, “Oh my goodness, they really will make a movie about anything these days.”
But when the movie was released and remarkably held the honor of Number One Movie in America for like two weeks running, the joke was on me. I don’t know if it was because it didn’t have any competition at the time, or if people were so distraught about the bad economic news they just wanted some kind of silly escape movie. Whatever it was, Beverly Hills Chihuahua proved pawsitively appealing to many.
Bolt’s had a lot of other big name movies to contend with being released at the same time, so it didn’t pull a Beverly Hills Chihuahua and soar to any number one spots -except for maybe Number One Family Movie in America. (I believe I’ve seen that touted on its ads.)
Unlike BHC that used live action dogs, Bolt is a cartoon. But both are from Disney so…hey, wait a minute. Maybe dogs aren’t taking over Hollywood as much as they are the Disney Studios! (The next film I’m going to talk about is also a Disney Pictures venture.)
Disney helped co-produce another film that’s not getting as much attention as Bolt, but is another animated feature. What makes it notable, aside from the fact the stars are stray dogs who live on the streets of Mumbai, it’s India’s first attempt at an animated feature. (So not only are the dogs trying to take over Hollywood, they’re gunning for Bollywood too!)
Yep, they turned the best-selling book into a movie. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson play the couple who adopt Marley.
I saw the previews for it last night and thought it looked pretty cute. I may have to make an exception for my animal movie problem and see this one.
This one’s due out January 2009 and looks like it’s going to be packed full of dogs. When I was judging it on the title alone, I thought it sounded as stupid as Beverly Hills Chihuahua, but then I read about the plot and thought it actually sounded kind of clever.
And what is the plot? A brother and sister get sent to live in a foster home but their dog Friday isn’t allowed to come with them. Rather than give him up, they turn an abandoned hotel they find into a home for him –as well as for other strays.
Courtney Mroch writes about animals great and small in Pets and the harmony and strife that encompasses married life in Marriage. For a full listing of her articles click here.