102 Dalmatians (2000)

1 out of 4

Starring: Glenn Close, Alice Evans, Ioan Gruffudd, Gerard Depardieu, Tim McInnerny

Director: Kevin Lima

Time: 100 mins

(Opens in Australia on December 26.)

In the entire canon of Disney animated pictures, from 1937's Snow White to last year's Tarzan, 101 Dalmatians is probably one of the more popular (it's not one of my favourites, but I'll leave that discussion for another time). I don't know exactly why this is, but perhaps the combination of scores of spotted dogs and someone widely regarded as the most memorable Disney villain of all time (amongst a Hall of Fame that includes the witch in Snow White, the stepmother in Cinderella, Ursula in The Little Mermaid, and Scar from The Lion King) has something to do with it. As the Disney people are wont to do when they see the potential for $$$, they made a live action version of 101 Dalmatians back in 1996, starring Glenn Close as the evil Cruella De Vil (DeVil, get it?). Though I didn't see that version (the original was not one of my favourites, remember), it just didn't seem to make sense when part of the charm of the cartoon was being able to hear the dogs speak. Still, there's no stopping the Disney brand name and marketing genius. 101 Dalmatians (live action) returned megabucks (US$280m worldwide), and we now, of course, have the sequel. Many people thought the original was unnecessary; what would they say about the sequel?

The film begins with Cruella De Vil still in prison, but apparently cured of her fur-loving ways. She is duly released, but must report periodically to Chloe Simon (Alice Evans), a parole officer who incidentally owns a brood of dalmatians. Meanwhile, Kevin Shepherd (Ioan Gruffudd), a generous young man who takes in stray dogs, is being evicted from his home. To show evidence of her reformed self, Cruella steps in and supports Kevin's dog shelter. Soon, though, Cruella's evil ways return, and with the help of French fur coat maker Le Pelt (Gerard Depardieu) and her loyal butler Alonso (Tim McInnerny), she plots to steal 102 dalmatians to make a hooded, spotted, fur coat. Naturally, Kevin and Chloe must team up to stop them.

The plot for 102 Dalmatians seems like a revisiting of the plot for the original. Yes, I know most sequels do this (after all, why change a formula that's worked once before, right?), but the live action 101 Dalmatians was already rehashing a plot that was used in a cartoon that was itself based on a book (by Dodie Smith). So the live action 101 Dalmatians was already unoriginal, and suffice it to say 102 Dalmatians mines the deepest depths for a shred of inspiration. But even then, the Disney people must be bereft of ideas, for there is no other way to explain a sequence in 102 which shamelessly steals from (or advertises, however you want to look at it) Disney's own Lady and the Tramp! The famous spaghetti eating scene at Tony's restaurant is mimicked in 102 Dalmatians and shown in tandem with the cartoon version. Is there nothing sacred even in Disney's own rarefied world?

Glenn Close returns as Cruella De Vil, who is by now more of an overacted caricature than a real character. Outfitted in an array of outlandish costumes and wigs, she looks kooky and crazy enough, but she doesn't have the scary skeletal features of the Cruella depicted in the animated version. Hamming it up even more is Frenchman Depardieu, almost unrecognisable under a new age haircut and copious layers of fur coats. Relative newcomers Gruffudd (from Titanic) and Evans (who looks like a British version of Monica Potter) are earnest and try hard, but it's really Cruella and the dogs the audience (hopefully mostly children) have come to see.

It's hard to give a meaningful rating to a film as unnecessary and worthless as 102 Dalmatians. After all, it is aimed more at children than at adults. But there are some "family" films that can work well for both age groups, and some, like the Pixar films (A Bug's Life, Toy Story, Toy Story 2), that are probably enjoyed just as much, if not more, by adults than by kids! 102 Dalmatians can only be described as a pure exercise in wringing hard-earned dollars from the parents of children who are caught up in the Disney machine. There are a couple of entertaining moments in the film, but they last a total of about two minutes. The rest is just regurgitated dross. Even the usual cuteness that can be found in most Disney family features can't save this film. Some children may enjoy it, but it might be tough going even for them after a while. As for adults, stay far away, unless you enjoy seeing lots of overacting.

(c) Joe Wong (7 December 2000)