Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Preceded by an infectious trailer that proved to be a crowd favorite featuring a song and dance number with a cast of hundreds the likes of which has not been seen since the heyday of Busby Berkeley (that is if Berkley had produced the closing ceremonies of the Westminster Dog Show), BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA arrives in a decidedly different package.  The non-musical film itself retains the fun promised in that preview but brings the surreal nature of the hundreds of singing dogs dancing down the steps of an ancient South American temple down to a more realistic level (that is if talking dogs living the high life is realistic).Part thriller, part road movie and all action, Beverly Hills Chihuahua follows the trials of Chloe (Drew Barrymore), one of the most pampered pups in California, and Delgado (Andy Garcia), a cynical, disgraced and disheartened ex-police dog, who both find themselves victim to a well organized back alley dog fighting ring. Thrown together into this dire predicament, the little lady and the tramp bond together, at first out of desperation and duty respectively, and then out of friendship and loyalty as they escape and go on the run to save their lives.

Brought on vacation to Mexico by her dog sitter Rachel (Piper Perabo), the well meaning but fun loving niece of her wealthy owner, the spoiled Chloe is quickly kidnapped by a dog fighting ring while Rachel is out partying.  Presented as the opening attraction at the fights, Chloe faces certain death when she is matched against the evil Doberman Diablo, until Delgado reveals a glimmer of the hero he once was by rescuing her from the pit and leading them both on a daring escape.  With Diablo and his owners in hot pursuit, they make a desperate run for freedom with danger threatening them every step of the way.

Meanwhile, Rachel searches frantically for the missing Chloe, engaging the help of the local police as well as Sam, her aunt’s landscaper and his own Chihuahua, the scrappy and fearless Papi (George Lopez).  Switching from the song and dance man featured in the trailer, Papi is tireless as he leads Rachel and Sam on the trail to rescue Chloe, who he fell in love with at first sight back in Beverly Hills.

And from there, the race is on and does not stop until the inevitable happy ending in which the good guys get what they want and the bad guys get what they deserve.  Along the way, the film provides enough thrills and laughs for both children and adults to make the film an enjoyable piece of popcorn entertainment although it falls short of earning its wings as a Disney family classic. 

Drew Barrymore is appropriately delicate and clueless as the pampered Chloe and George Lopez is appropriately sarcastic as the street smart Papi.  Andy Garcia brings the true standout performance, providing an understated but noble characterization of a hero in despair seeking redemption and a reason to be a hero again.  Garcia’s voice work brings a depth to this character not usually found in talking dog movies (if such gravitas is ever found in talking dog movies).  Piper Perabo and Manolo Cardona (in his first English language role as Sam the landscaper) are the likable, if unextraordinary, human leads that follow behind the action.

Heavily steeped in Mexican culture, Disney finds an admirable balance between avoiding stereotypes (the police are not corrupt) and featuring Latino villains (the dog fighting ring and border smugglers) while finding humor in and about the culture in a way that resonates in that community without insulting it.  This sensitivity in such a broad piece of popular entertainment is undoubtedly due in no small part to the all star supporting casting of the likes of Edward James Olmos, Paul Rodriguez, Luiz Guzman and Cheech Marin who, along with the headliners Garcia and Lopez, create a unique ensemble of genuinely entertaining personalities.

BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA is a light hearted, fun, family action movie that will provide enough entertainment to justify the 90 minute investment required.  This film is in theaters now.

Starring:  Drew Barrymore, Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Piper Perabo, Manolo Cardona

Directed by:  Raja Gosnell (Never Been Kissed, Scooby Doo)

Rated PG

Running time:  91 minutes