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The Truth About Cats & Dogs

Play trailer Poster for The Truth About Cats & Dogs PG-13 1996 1h 37m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 57% 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

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Rita Kempley Washington Post 09/09/2020
Why quibble? You'll still go home purring and wagging your tail. Go to Full Review
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 09/09/2020
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. Go to Full Review
Owen Gleiberman Entertainment Weekly 09/07/2011
B+
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. Go to Full Review
Malcolm Johnson Hartford Courant 09/09/2020
2.5/4
In time... this tale of a terrible quandary becomes as witty and engaging as the confident yet oddly insecure Abby. Go to Full Review
Jeff Simon Buffalo News 09/09/2020
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. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 11/08/2019
3/4
Affable yet relatively unmemorable... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Noel L 6d This is a gender reversed adaptation of Roxanne. I think the story help up even though it was cliche, but the acting could've used a tune up See more KARYN N Jul 10 Don't know why some people don't like this movie. Guessing it didn't fit the typical predictable romcom script. Which is probably why I, a person who doesn't like most romcoms, actually enjoyed this movie a lot. In fact it has one of my favorite lines, a (long) line that has stuck with me for almost 30 years: "You know how someone's appearance can change the longer you know them? How a really attractive person, if you don't like them, can become more and more ugly; whereas someone you might not have even have noticed that you wouldn't look at more than once, if you love them, can become the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. All you want to do is be near them." See more 11/04/2024 No idea what critics see in this film, but they continue to lose all credibility with me. See more @c0urtn3y 03/21/2022 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. See more jon c 04/26/2021 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. See more 12/27/2020 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. See more Read all reviews
The Truth About Cats & Dogs

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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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