BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA

2008, DreamWorks Animation

Live action & CGI

Rating: PG

Approx. 91 mins.

THE STORY:

Chloe (Drew Barrymore) is the spoiled-beyond-belief pet Chihuahua of Vivian (Jamie Lee Curtis), a too-rich-for-her-own-good makeup mogul. When a last minute business trip comes up, Vivian enlists her spoiled slacker niece, Rachel (Piper Perabo), to dog sit for a few days. Rachel has no interest, however, in spending most of her days ushering a dog from salon to couturier to social engagement. Instead she and some friends take off to Mexico for a few days of fun in the sun, with a miffed Chloe in tow.

Predictably, things soon go awry, and Chloe ends up lost, kidnapped and on the run. Rachel tries desperately to find her with the help of Vivian's landscaper, Sam (Manolo Cardona) and his dog, Papi (George Lopez). Meanwhile Chloe finds a guardian angel in Delgado (Andy Garcia), a former police dog with a mysterious past and something to prove.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• Oh my God. 

VIOLENCE:

•  none

TEACHING POINTS:

•  New experiences can be opportunities for positive change.

THE UPSHOT:

First, two confessions:

1) I'm not a fan of talking animal live action movies, and

2) I'm not a fan of Drew Barrymore's drawl.

So, you can imagine how much I enjoyed approximately 90 minutes of both. 

But it's not just about me. The four year-old in the room thought it was cute and funny. She missed some of the plot twists because it was just such unfamiliar territory-- she has no idea, thankfully, what kidnapping is-- but enjoyed the film as whole, nonetheless.

My own prejudices aside, the movie has its merits. It's a story of survival and redemption, of overcoming one's own limitations to become a better self. What's more, it's about how much self-betterment is linked to our relationships with others. I also liked the fact that it features so many Hispanic actors/ characters, not in purely comic or background roles.

The film touches on some pretty dark themes: dog fighting, kidnapping for ransom, discrimination based on race, class and appearance. This could be a plus for older kids, since it's done pretty subtly. But for younger kids, it might be a bit much. 

Ultimately, when I think of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, 3 words run through my head: Predictable. Very predictable.

2.5/5