102 Dalmatians
Directed by Kevin Lima
- family
- comedy
The story
Get ready for a howling good time as an all new assortment of irresistible animal heroes are unleashed in this great family tail! In an unlikely alliance, the outrageous Waddlesworth - a parrot who thinks he's a Rottweiler - teams up with Oddball - an un-marked Dalmatian puppy eager to earn her spots! Together they embark on a laugh-packed quest to outwit the ever-scheming Cruella De Vil.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated London streets and a sunny English countryside give this live-action family comedy a cheerful, storybook polish: crisp daylight, pastel-trimmed interiors, and a lot of bustling, colourful set-dressing. The camera stays fairly lively and mobile, following the animals' antics at dog height with quick cuts and playful slapstick framing, while the score is bouncy and orchestral, full of comic stings and warm, sentimental swells. The grimier prison and pet-shop sequences add a little shadow without ever getting dark. The overall vibe is breezy, goofy and warm, the kind of easy watch for a lazy weekend afternoon, a family movie night, or something to have on in the background while doing chores. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with the emotional arc centring on an unlikely friendship between a bragging parrot and an unmarked puppy who longs to belong, and a steady sense that good hearts win out. Intensity is very low: slapstick peril and mild scares, no real violence, gore or sexual content, and the villain is more silly than menacing. It is made for families with younger children, and for adults who want a gentle, undemanding comedy.
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