Hotel for Dogs
2009  PG  COMEDY  1h 40min
CAST— Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Kyla Pratt, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, Don Cheadle
MUSIC— John Debney  DIRECTOR— Thor Freudenthal  BASED ON— Hotel for Dogs (novel), by Lois Duncan

     A misfire from the start, this kid flick from Nickelodeon Movies plays out as a Hotel Rwanda (2004) for the canine set. When two foster children decide to find a new home for their semi-stray dog never did they imagine the adventure in store for them. Their dog discovers an abandoned building, a once glorious hotel where now only the odd mutt may find shelter. The kids gather a few human companions and decide to turn this into a safe haven for stray dogs. Using gizmos and gadgets concocted from gathered refuse the kids entertain the dogs and themselves, all the while eluding the inept animal control units patrolling the city. Don’t expect to be howling with laughter at the sight of this one. Zero logic, zero substance, and more holes than diet Swiss cheese. Recommended for children with the intellect of the canines portrayed therein.
OUR RATING— * ½