Puppy Power
By Daily Bruin Staff
Nov. 20, 2000 9:00 p.m.
 Illustration by JARRETT QUON/Daily Bruin
Emilia Hwang
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
All dogs go to Hollywood.
While Christopher Guest’s recent mockumentary chronicles
canines at the Mayflower dog show striving to earn the prestigious
“best in show” title, Disney’s latest full-length
feature follows the harrowing adventures of 102 puppies who must
escape the cruel clutches of dog-napper extraordinaire Cruella De
Vil.
In the comedy “102 Dalmatians,” the villainous
Cruella (Glenn Close) is back after three years in prison. Behavior
control therapy has transformed the notorious fur-fetish queen into
a humanitarian friend of the animal kingdom.
To show her newfound love of four-legged creatures, Cruella
rescues a failing dog shelter. The owner of the animal haven is
bright-eyed Kevin Shepherd (Ioan Gruffudd), who’s eagerly
willing to give Cruella a second chance.
But can Cruella remain a changed woman?
In this sequel to “101 Dalmatians” (1996), Cruella
eventually reverts back to her evil fur-coveting ways. This time,
she wants a hooded, spotted fur coat, requiring one more dalmatian
““ bringing her puppy tally up to 102.
Close is magnificently wicked in her pursuit of the 102 puppies.
The characteristics that beget fairy-tale villains are captured
brilliantly in the film’s details, from Cruella’s
chilling mansion to her stunning haute couture.
 Disney Enterprises Gerard Depardieu
plays Jean Pierre Le Pelt, a French furrier, in the family comedy
"102 Dalmatians."
“102 Dalmatians” takes you back to picturesque
London, where doting Chloe Simon (Alice Evans) awaits the arrival
of a litter of puppies ““ Little Dipper, Domino and Oddball.
Dalmatian parents Dottie and Dipstick return from the first feature
to continue the legacy of the original proud parents Pongo and
Perdita (from Dodie Smith’s classic book “The One
Hundred And One Dalmatians”).
Chloe must protect her puppies from the scheming Cruella, who
joins forces with French fashion furrier Jean Pierre Le Pelt
(Gérard Depardieu). Even with the help of trusty manservant
Alonso (Tim McInnerny), Cruella and company are no match for the
four-legged furries that uncover their wicked plot.
The heroic dogs in “102 Dalmatians” prove to be
considerably smarter than their villainous human counterparts. The
blundering dog-napping knaves generate a great deal of slapstick
comedy, as the pint-sized puppies defeat their full-grown foes with
anything they can get their paws on.
The best characters in the film also prove to be canine, not
human. Oddball, the aptly named dalmatian pup who’s missing
her spots, leads the other puppies in a bold escape à la
“Shawshank Redemption.”
Each of the misfits at Shepherd’s shelter brim with
individual flare ““ Chomp (assaulter of countless mailmen),
Digger (assaulter of countless rosebeds) and Drooler (his name says
it all) constantly steal the scene away from the bland and British
Gruffudd.
Sharing the spotlight with the canine critters is the Green
Winged Macaw, Waddlesworth. Believing himself to be a dog, the
talking bird is a colorful addition to the characters in the dog
shelter.
 Disney Enterprises In “102 Dalmatians,”
Cruella De Vil (Glenn Close) appears to love the
dogs she once saw only as future fur coats.
Rife with animal puns (the puppy-stealing Le Pelt tells Oddball
that she’s dog meat), “102 Dalmatians” has humor
that works on many levels. Younger audiences will enjoy the
movie’s physical comedy and playful puppy antics, while older
moviegoers will revel in the films more subtle humor (like the
ironic naming of “Fluffy,” the hairless Chinese Crested
dog).
While audiences of all ages can discern the film’s
be-kind-to-animals, anti-fur lesson, the full meat behind the
message is evident in the movie’s careful treatment of the
animals during filming.
The American Humane Association was on set to ensure that no
animals were harmed in the making of the film. Furthermore,
according to animal trainer Gary Gero, no puppies or animals were
bred for the making of “102 Dalmatians.”
While helping to ensure the safety of the animals during
filming, digital effects were crucial to many of the film’s
visually enhanced scenes. Disney’s digital production studio,
The Secret Lab, created computer-generated dogs for scenes that
featured all 102 puppies.
Also, digital effects were used to create the lovable Oddball.
The black spots on the live-action dalmatians were painted out by
digital artists, while a computer generated dog was used for
close-ups of the lovable pup’s expressive face.
Despite Disney’s animal-friendly filming practices, the
company still came under fire for releasing the puppy-powered
“102 Dalmatians.” The animal rights group People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals urged Michael Eisner, CEO of the
Walt Disney Company, to issue a public cautionary statement about
dalmatian fad purchases.
Following the release of “101 Dalmatians,” animal
shelters found themselves dealing with a large number of discarded
dalmatians. Requiring special attention, the breed is notoriously
high-strung and often ill-suited to family life.
PETA is afraid that a similar dalmatian breeding and buying
craze will follow the release of “102 Dalmatians.”
Disney’s latest feature, however, is a responsible and
fun-filled movie with animal rights morals that should not be
diminished by the actions of irresponsible parents and greedy
breeders.
Furthermore, the end of the film bears the seal of approval from
the American Humane Society and the Dalmatian Club of America in a
statement informing audiences that adopting a pet is a lifetime
commitment that should be researched carefully.
Overall, “102 Dalmatians” is a good-natured film
that combines light comedy, strong characters, and digital effects
to create its wide appeal.
Reflecting Disney’s love-all-the-furry-critters message,
the movie embodies the motto of dog-lovers everywhere. As Shepherd
eloquently states in the movie, “Dogs are people
too.”
FILM: “102 Dalmatians” opens tomorrow in theaters
nationwide.
