The Dalmatians
The Dalmatians

Movie spotlight

The Dalmatians

1997
Movie
25 min
German

Tuepfelchen, the little Dalmatian dog is despaired. Just a second ago she had been playing with her two brothers and sisters and now they are gone. Together with Kruemel, the young half-breed dog, he starts looking for them. Soon they meet a gang of street dogs. They persuade the dogs to help them. Without success they search the whole city. All of a sudden Butcher, the clumsy Bulldog discovers a trace of the two. The small Dalmatians aren't well. The dog gang decides to act and Kruemel already has a plan.

Insights

IMDb5.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes37%
Metacritic44/100
Google Users68%
Director: Stephen HerekGenres: Comedy, Family, Adventure

Plot Summary

A stylish London-based video game designer inherits a litter of dalmatian puppies, only to have them stolen by the villainous Cruella de Vil. She plans to use their pelts for her new fur coat line. With the help of his loyal fiancée and a network of city animals, he embarks on a daring rescue mission to save the puppies from Cruella's clutches.

Critical Reception

The live-action adaptation of the beloved animated classic received mixed reviews. While praised for its colorful production design and Glenn Close's memorable performance as Cruella de Vil, critics often found the plot thin and the humor hit-or-miss. Audiences, however, generally responded positively to its family-friendly entertainment.

What Reviewers Say

  • Glenn Close's portrayal of Cruella de Vil is a standout, bringing a campy, theatrical flair to the villain.

  • The film boasts impressive costume and production design, capturing a vibrant, albeit stylized, version of London.

  • Despite its visual appeal, the narrative struggles to maintain momentum, often feeling predictable and lacking the charm of its animated predecessor.

Google audience: Audience reviews often highlight the fun and spectacle of the film, particularly appreciating the visual effects used to bring the dalmatians to life and Glenn Close's over-the-top performance. Some viewers found it a charming family film, while others wished for more depth in the story and character development.

Awards & Accolades

None notable.

Fun Fact

The extensive use of CGI for the dalmatian puppies was groundbreaking for its time, with over 300 digital puppies created for the film. This allowed for complex actions and interactions that would have been impossible with real animals.

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