102 Dalmatians
**
Rated on a 4-star
scale
Screening venue: Odeon (Liverpool City Centre)
Released in the UK by Buena Vista International on December 8, 2000; certificate
U; 100 minutes; country of origin USA; aspect ratio 1.85:1
Directed by Kevin Lima; produced by Edward
S. Feldman.
Written by Kristen Buckley, Brian Regan, Bob Tzudiker,
Noni White; from a story by Kristen Buckley, Brian Regan;
based on the novel "The One Hundred and One Dalmatians" by Dodie
Smith.
Photographed by Adrian Biddle, Roger Pratt; edited by Gregory
Perler.
CAST.....
Glenn Close..... Cruella De Vil
Gerard Depardieu..... Le Pelt
Ioan Gruffudd..... Kevin
Alice Evans..... Chloe
Tim McInnerny..... Alonso
I have a friend who wonders why the makers of
"102 Dalmatians" created a new plot, when they could have adapted
the sequel book to "One Hundred and One Dalmatians". She may be on to something
-- there's something charming about the story of the novel, in which the
dogs have spellbinding power over humans and there's an epic climax in Trafalgar
Square. But I don't think that would make a good live-action picture; a great
cartoon, maybe.
Thing is, the original "One Hundred and One
Dalmatians" didn't suit live-action either. It was a wonderful animated feature
by Disney back in 1961, but the live-action remake in 1996 looked grotesque.
Cruella De Vil is not a good villain when played by an actor; she's not
interesting or scary, but simply misshapen and tacky. I saw the '96 film
in bits, on a ferry, and had to escape to the fresh air before the ending,
because I didn't want to vomit.
As played by Glenn Close, Cruella is gaudy and
over the top, marches around in inch-thick layers of makeup and ostentatious
clothes, and strains a screechy cackle. The plot of "102 Dalmatians" is so
contemptible because before Cruella turns nasty and goes back to her old
dog-napping ways, we get a rehabilitated version of her who says everything
in forced tones, as if quoting, has a half-black, half-white Eraserhead haircut,
walks in awkward jolts and glares with possessed eyes. We get two of the
most annoying characters in recent movie history for the price of one --
luckily, my tolerance level is high; I've seen "The House of
Mirth".
In the background of this is a romantic subplot
between Ioan Gruffudd, as the manager of a dog sanctuary who gives the
rehabilitated Cruella a chance, and Alice Evans, who plays her parole officer.
These two are so genuine, so sweet, and such a refreshing break from the
scenes involving Close, that I started to wish the entire movie had been
a romantic comedy between two dog lovers brought together by a shared
acquaintance. As the movie is trying to be a comic adventure caper for kids,
that's one helluva sign that it's doing something wrong.
COPYRIGHT© 2000 Ian
Waldron-Mantgani
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