Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) Movie Review

Family friendly films centered on talking animals, especially dogs, have been done time and time again. Sometimes the result is terrific as with Babe and Charlotte’s Web, while other times being horrendous such as Cats & Dogs. Now comes along Disney’s Beverly Hills Chihuahua, which is nothing great, but kids will love it, my two-year old was enthralled with it.

The film not only dogs with the ability to talk to one another with their CGI mouths moving, but all animals have this ability. The title of the film refers to Chloe (voiced by Drew Barrymore), a pampered white Chihuahua that spends her days laid out by the pool and wearing her diamond Harry Winston necklace. Chloe’s owner is the successful Vivian (Jamie Lee Curtis), who loves her more than anything, but has a recent business trip scheduled that Chloe is not able to attend. She enlists her not too reliable niece, Rachel (Piper Perabo) to babysit Chloe, and it is obvious that her niece and her pet do not get along too well. However, Chloe is the object of Papi’s (voiced by George Lopez) affection, though she dismays him. Papi is Vivian’s landscaper Sam’s (Manolo Cardona) feisty brown Chihuahua. After Rachel’s friends whisk her and Chloe away on a party trip to Mexico, Chloe is kidnapped by a team of dog fighting promoters. In the dog fighting circle, she meets a wise German shepherd named Delgado (voiced by Andy Garcia), who helps her escape from the jaws of a menacing Doberman named Diablo (voiced by Edward James Olmos). Now on the run, Chloe is trying to find her way back home with the help of Delgado. At the same time guilt sets in for Rachel as she begins to search for Chloe as well, along with the help of Sam and the overanxious Papi.

Director Raja Gosnell has ventured into the talking dog territory before with Scooby-Doo and failed miserably. Still lacking any stability in terms of camera choices and comedic timing, Gosnell does better with Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Though there is nothing gratuitous with his work and the CGI is at times cartoonish, the film comes nowhere close to being drenched in inconsistency. The script of the film by Analisa LaBianco and Jeffrey Bushell plays towards the kids and is full of heart. Though predictable for adults, the kids will be at the edge of their seats with this film which is becomes a rescue movie with touches of comedy. Parents may be weary of the dog fighting elements in the film, but though it is talked off, there is nothing at all visually disturbing or dark in the film. One of the film’s brightest moments actually takes place with one of the dogs getting ready to go in the ring praying to not be put in.

The voices from work well for the film, especially veteran actors Andy Garcia and Edward James Olmos as old warriors Delgado and Diablo. Other cast members lending their voices include Cheech Marin, Paul Rodriguez, Luis Guzman, and Loretta Devine. Jamie Lee Curtis has a very small role as Chloe’s owner Vivian, the lead in the film is Piper Perabo, who plays Rachel with spunk and seems to be a fit for family films.

Though Beverly Hills Chihuahua is of material that has been done before and it may have some adults rolling their eyes, children will love this film. The CGI is shaky at times, but animals talking seem to be irresistible for the kiddies.