Hotel for Dogs Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Hotel for Dogs Blu-ray Movie Review

Check in to the 'Hotel For Dogs' for solid family entertainment.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 11, 2009

Why don't we just wander the streets and rescue every stray we see?

It's not even the dog days of summer, but Blu-ray fans have been positively inundated with canine-centric high definition bliss over the past few months. Space Buddies, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, and Marley & Me have all barked up a storm on Blu-ray, pleasing both young and old alike with tales (or tails) of man's best friend accidentally winding up in space, taking an ill-advised trip south of the border, or causing general mayhem and destruction. Not to be outdone, DreamWorks' Hotel For Dogs throws its bone into the mix, the film a funny and sweet Comedy about making friends and building a family.

Somebody tell Salacious Crumb that this is the Hotel For Dogs, not Jaba's palace!

Orphans Bruce (Jake T. Austin) and Andi (Emma Roberts) are siblings that are cared for by a pair of relics from the 1980s -- Lois and Carl Scudder (Kevin Dillion and Lisa Kudrow, respectively). The children aren't provided much of a life and secretly harbor a small dog named Friday to keep them company. When Friday leaves the apartment and becomes lost, the children go out to find him -- and discover themselves on the run from the police, blamed for a crime they didn't commit. They hole up in an abandoned hotel until things settle down and meet its occupants -- a pair of dogs that make Friday feel right at home. Fearful of taking Friday back home and not wanting to separate him from his new friends, Andi and Bruce leave him at the hotel and decide to care for his needs there. Andi winds up taking in three more dogs from a pet store clerk named Dave (Johnny Simmons), and before they know it, they've rescued every stray dog in town! The technically-inclined Bruce constructs for the dogs devices that cater to their every need and all seems to be going well -- until their cover is blown. Can the children, with help from a caring social worker named Bernie (Don Cheadle, Traitor), rescue the dogs from a fate worse than life on the street?

Hotel For Dogs is a movie that does all it sets out to very well, so well in fact that it may even hold the interest of older audiences who normally don't slobber all over this sort of material. What the film lacks in believability it more than makes up for in heart, the film a positive and uplifting story about doing what is right, standing firm in one's beliefs, and helping out a friend (or in this case, a multitude of friends) in need. It's no coincidence that the film's pair of primary protagonists are orphans. Their 80's-loving foster parents treat them not all that much better than animals, serving them slop, locking up the pantry to keep their paws out, and keeping the kids on a tight leash. The children understand the importance of love and respect, something the animals they bring to the hotel lack in the outside world. The dogs are a mix of disabled and abandoned, adorable and ugly, large and small. No matter what they are, where they came from, or what they have to offer, they are loved as equals despite any shortcomings. Hotel For Dogs seamlessly intertwines a positive message with a funny and witty story that keeps up a nice pace and might even leave audiences begging for more.

Hotel For Dogs also offers up surprisingly good acting and steady direction, attributes generally not associated with this sort of kid-centric entertainment. Director Thor Freudenthal keeps things interesting and easy, allowing the stars of the film -- those that stand on two legs and four -- to do their part in making the film a success. Jake T. Austin and Emma Roberts are as adorable as their canine companions, the two sharing good chemistry as an orphaned brother-sister tandem. They emote a genuine sense of care, concern, and love for one another and the animals they shelter, bringing real emotion to the film and reinforcing the themes of togetherness, support, and love. Kevin Dillon and Lisa Kudrow also deliver hilarious performances as the children's foster parents. Trapped in the 1980s with dreams of a career as a big hair and leather rock band, they represent something between benign villain and comic relief. Finally, the steady and ever-reliable Don Cheadle delivers a classic kid's movie performance as the caring social worker who sees the good in Bruce and Andi and admires their steadfastness to stand by one another no matter the circumstances. Cheadle not only plays his part well, but he lends an enormous amount of credibility to the project. While not his best part or particularly great material compared to some of his other roles, Cheadle brings plenty of heart and soul to the role and to the film, his touching performance in its final minutes in particular of praiseworthy recognition.

Hotel for Dogs Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Hotel For Dogs trots onto Blu-ray with a nice looking 1080p, 1.78:1-framed transfer. As a new-for-2009 Family Comedy on Blu-ray, everything is in place for a solid transfer, and this one doesn't disappoint. Detail is well above average, colors are bright and lively if not a bit warm, and the image is sharp across the board. The interior of the hotel becomes a character, at first appearing musty and run down, with relics, dust, and debris strewn everywhere, and the transfer captures all of it nicely. The many cityscape shots also sparkle, those that take place both at night and during the day. Detail and textures are solid all around. All the dogs look great, and shots that are sufficiently up-close reveal each strand of fur nicely. Likewise, flesh tones are solid. Black levels are fine, and the print is free of blemishes and features minimal noise. All in all, DreamWorks' Blu-ray transfer of Hotel For Dogs is a good one.

Hotel for Dogs Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Hotel For Dogs barks onto Blu-ray with a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This is a lively, fulfilling soundtrack that is easy on the ears. It fills the soundstage nicely, the music, effects, and dialogue carried by the front with the rear channels often used in support. Atmospherics, too, are solid. A thunderstorm as heard in chapter five features enveloping rain and distinctive thunder that is placed throughout the soundstage to nice effect. Dialogue, barks, howls, and growls are all reproduced crisply and efficiently. Hotel For Dogs makes for a nice, warm, and inviting track that never falters.

Hotel for Dogs Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of Hotel For Dogs features several bonus features. First up is a Commentary track with Director Thor Freudenthal, Producer Ewan "Jack" Leslie, and Actors Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin. The participants offer up a well-rounded track, discussing the themes of the film, the performances of the dogs, shooting locations, the idea behind particular sequences, and more. Though not a must-listen, the track is nevertheless informative and easy on the ears. A Home For Everyone: The Making of 'Hotel For Dogs' (1080i, 19:07) looks at working with the dogs, the extensive animal training, the work of the human actors, and more. That's the Coolest Thing I've Ever Seen! (1080i, 5:59) takes a closer look at some of the intricate devices that are used in the hotel. K-9 Casting (1080i, 6:26) looks at the process of assembling the right mixture of dogs for the film. Bark On Cue! (1080i, 4:43) examines the complexities of getting all the animals on the same page for each scene. The PEDIGREE Adoption Drive (1080i, 0:32) is a brief commercial for the Pedigree Foundation. Concluding this set of special features is a collection of eight deleted scenes (1080p, 10:39), three photo galleries (On-Set Action, Puppy Love, and 'Dog People') and the Hotel For Dogs theatrical trailer (1080p, 2:32).

Hotel for Dogs Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Hotel For Dogs is a surprisingly sweet, touching, and funny Comedy that is easily suitable for the entire family. Not only are the varied dogs a pleasure to watch, but the performances by the two-legged actors are better than expected, with Don Cheadle delivering another first-rate performance. The film features a solid message on the importance of love, respect, and sticking by friends in both the best of times and the worst of times. DreamWorks' Blu-ray release of Hotel For Dogs is solid, boasting a well-above-average high definition transfer, a pleasing lossless soundtrack, and a few bonus features. With a good message, solid acting, witty visuals, plenty of cute pups, and now all available on a good Blu-ray release, Hotel For Dogs is a charming winner worth howling about! Recommended.