While there, they find that two strays have made the hotel their home and they decide to keep Friday here as well. With the help of an unlikely crew of other kids consisting of cute guy named Dave (Johnny Simmons) and his pet store co-worker Heather (Kyla Pratt), plus unlucky-in-love Mark (Troy Gentile), the group determines to clean up the hotel and make it a place where "no stray is turned away." Bruce's inventions make the place a joy to be at since the feeding and potty needs of the dogs all become automated, plus there are all sorts of devices to keep the dogs entertained like auto-ball throwers and simulated car rides, complete with breeze-in-your-face technology. In fact, the kids soon start rescuing strays before the dogcatchers can even get there and their tenants increase, each one feeling as though they have a home where they truly belong.
However, it seems nothing good can ever last and soon, their "Hotel For Dogs" is in danger of being shut down. Also, through a collection of unfortunate events, Andi and Bruce are going to be separated - from each other and their beloved dogs. Only a miracle can save them, and that's just what they'll get.
This movie is absolutely precious. Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin are just adorable and Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon are deliciously sleazy - it's really good to see them get what's coming to them. I also really enjoyed Don Cheadle in his role as "guardian angel" over the kids. While the ending is somewhat predictable, it's a really fun journey getting there. Sure, some of the wacky inventions Bruce pulls off are a little far-fetched, but we've all seen the automatic dog toy-throwing device on Youtube, so maybe not.
Special features are light and fun and are kept fairly short, which is actually quite nice. There's a featurette on casting and training the dogs, one on the making-of the film, one on the gadgets they created and a nice selection of deleted scenes. What I liked is that they used a number of rescue dogs in the film, and there's also a brief snippet on Pedigree's Adoption Drive - and dog adoption instead of purchase is definitely something I like to see Hollywood push.
Overall, this is a really sweet film with a good little dose of teenage romance and plenty of doggie laughs to boot. If you've ever loved a dog, you'll appreciate this movie. Even if you haven't, it's a fun romp and I recommend it. It's sure to keep the kids busy for at least a viewing or two over the summer.
