Glenn Close in "102 Dalmatians."

MOVIE INFORMATION

With 10 as a must-see, Jack gives this film a: Stars: Glenn Close and Gerard DePardieu Director: Kevin Lima Rated: G, with puppies in danger and a villain thrown in an oven Length: 101 minutes

ROCHESTERCRITIQUE

Having seen this film, how would you rate it? 10 5 9 4 8 3 7 2 6 1

By Jack Garner
Democrat and Chronicle

(November 24, 2000) -- Finally ... we have the answer to the day's pressing question: Who let the dogs out!?!

Disney Studios, of course, as they unleash another pack on the world. With 102 Dalmatians, they hope to bark up even more box office for one of the studio's most lucrative franchises.

First, there was the 1961 animated version of Dodie Smith's novel, detailing how five-score-and-one spotted canines outwit a fashion maven -- Cruella DeVil -- who wants to turn their skins into the world's most spectacular coat.

Then came the entertaining 1996 live-action version. It was bolstered by a hilariously hammy Cruella (Glenn Close) and ground-breaking animal performances created from superb training and computer-generated effects.

Now comes a sequel that mildly amuses but offers little of its predecessors' imagination. It has enough thrills and laughs to please young fans of the other films but won't be nearly as pleasing to adults. In a holiday season of family fare, this dog show takes third place behind The Grinch and Rugrats.

Even with her talent and verve, Close can't top her over-the-top original version of Cruella. The dogs, of course, will please the youngsters, though the new film cheats by adding a talking parrot. (I admired the way the 1996 steadfastly avoided conversational animals.)

The four writers of 102 Dalmatians start with a clever premise: Cruella has been psychologically rehabilitated and now loves animals. Upon her parole, she puts her fur coats in storage and rescues a failing animal shelter.

She even asks to be called "Ella."

Everyone is suitably impressed, except her probation officer, Chloe Simon (Alice Evans). Chloe owns two dogs from the original Dalmatian case -- Dipstick and Perdy -- as well as their three pups.

But then the prison psychologist makes a frightening discovery: His patients revert to their original ways if they hear bells. At that exact moment, Cruella is rocked with the boom of nearby Big Ben.

At that point 102 Dalmatians becomes a carbon copy of the first film. Cruella brings out her old plans for a fur coat and schemes to kidnap dogs to skin. She adds a hood, so she now requires 102 animals. And the last five dogs of that count, of course, are Chloe's pets.

From that point, it's one long slapstick chase that could easily be intercut with the chase from the first film's end.

The only other difference in the sequel is no bonus: French star Gerard Depardieu appears as Jean Pierre Le Pelt, a pompous designer who teams with DeVil to create the greatest coat in history. From his silly upsweep hair-do to his bumbling behavior, the role is unamusing and an embarrassing addition to the actor's resume.

Perhaps first-time live-action director Kevin Lima is partly to blame. A veteran animator and director of Disney's recent feature-length cartoon of Tarzan, maybe he wasn't ready to deal with the intricacies of actors that weren't created with pen and ink.