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The Truth About Cats & Dogs

Play trailer Poster for The Truth About Cats & Dogs PG-13 Released Apr 26, 1996 1h 37m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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85% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 56% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
Abby (Janeane Garofalo) hosts a popular radio show about pets. When Brian (Ben Chaplin) calls in to ask about his quirky Great Dane, the two surprisingly hit it off. Brian pushes for a date with Abby, who is shy and a bit insecure, so she talks her ditzy neighbor Noelle (Uma Thurman) into taking her place. While the confused and oblivious Brian tries to figure out why his date is so different from the host he spoke to, Abby must work up the nerve to confess, as Noelle is also falling for Brian.
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The Truth About Cats & Dogs

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Critics Consensus

Sharp, witty, and charming, The Truth About Cats and Dogs features a standout performance from Janeane Garofalo.

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Critics Reviews

View All (47) Critics Reviews
Rita Kempley Washington Post Why quibble? You'll still go home purring and wagging your tail. Sep 9, 2020 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Though the basic brains-versus-beauty tension suggests a female variation on The Nutty Professor, this is a softer version of the dilemma than Jerry Lewis offers-easier to take and easier to forget. Sep 9, 2020 Full Review Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly You feel that Lehmann has too much affection for the people on screen to let them seem like dupes. Then again, that's part of the movie's charm. Rated: B+ Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant In time... this tale of a terrible quandary becomes as witty and engaging as the confident yet oddly insecure Abby. Rated: 2.5/4 Sep 9, 2020 Full Review Jeff Simon Buffalo News It's a charming little romantic comedy that never tries to outweigh its own charm. Best of all, it never forgets how much that charm is dependent on the woman in its center. Sep 9, 2020 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Affable yet relatively unmemorable... Rated: 3/4 Nov 8, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member No idea what critics see in this film, but they continue to lose all credibility with me. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 11/04/24 Full Review Audience Member a cute watch if you don't have anything else better to do - I'm not sure i'd go out of my way to recommend it to anyone, but it is cute. the two main ladies both play their parts well, but the whole "I'm ugly" plot point is SO repetitive & just not true so i thought that took away from the quirkiness & made it kind of annoying. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review robert p With huge eyes, a smile that is almost as dazzling as Julia Roberts' and intelligence that she couldn't hide under a Mack truck, Garofalo has been a comic enchantress waiting to be born. Thus this movie get's a *4* star review!!!! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review jon c The truth can be a funny thing particularly when it comes to radio and our pets. Jeanine Garafalo, Uma Thurman, Ben Chaplin, and Jamie Foxx Abby hosts a radio talk show catering to many listeners who have pets. Her friend Noelle is a fashion model. One day Abby is on call with a man named Brian. They hit it off but Abby isn't brave enough to let him know who she really is, so when it comes to having a date with him she has Noelle switch places with her. But it could be tricky as Abby is finding the courage to tell him the truth. Noelle might actually be falling for him too. This was just okay. There's a lot of talking and Garafalo kinda makes it hard at times to root for her by the amount of lying her character does. But the actresses are charming together. The film does make a statement about giving people a chance, not having being in love being based on looks, dismissing the ideal fantasy that only beauty is worthy of time and affection, and learning to have confidence not letting insecurity get in the way. This was alright although it could've used more pizazz and funny antics. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The central premise is that the Janeane Garofalo character feels that she is obviously ugly compared to the Uma Thurman character. To the point that she wants to hide her identity from a man who is interested in her personality. This is such a ridiculous and unhealthy premise that it makes the movie unwatchable. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Good watch, could watch again, and can recommend. This movie has held up over a long period of time due to stellar performances by Janeane Garofalo and Uma Thurman, and that's really all it has going for it. Great actors giving solid delivery in a decent script. It does remind me of Cyrano de Bergerac a bit, but it's a classic switcheroo trope for a romantic comedy that gives a life lesson of beauty is what you make of it. My biggest problem is that they basically call Garofalo ugly because she's not Thurman, which doesn't make sense to me. Other that that, the script is strong enough without being spectacular, and I feel like the cast had to work very hard to make the movie what it is. A modern day reboot is surely on the way with it being about a podcast of the same name. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Truth About Cats & Dogs

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Cast & Crew

P.C.U. 50% 75% P.C.U. Watchlist Dr. Dolittle 43% 35% Dr. Dolittle Watchlist TRAILER for Dr. Dolittle The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest 11% 49% The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest Watchlist Stuck on You 62% 35% Stuck on You Watchlist The Cable Guy 55% 51% The Cable Guy Watchlist TRAILER for The Cable Guy Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Abby (Janeane Garofalo) hosts a popular radio show about pets. When Brian (Ben Chaplin) calls in to ask about his quirky Great Dane, the two surprisingly hit it off. Brian pushes for a date with Abby, who is shy and a bit insecure, so she talks her ditzy neighbor Noelle (Uma Thurman) into taking her place. While the confused and oblivious Brian tries to figure out why his date is so different from the host he spoke to, Abby must work up the nerve to confess, as Noelle is also falling for Brian.
Director
Michael Lehmann
Producer
Cari-esta Albert
Screenwriter
Audrey Wells
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
20th Century Fox
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 26, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 18, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$34.1M
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Surround, Stereo
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