Cats & Dogs
Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: July 4, 2001 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
47
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews
Positive:
8
Mixed:
12
Negative:
6
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
Washington PostJane Horwitz
Surprisingly witty and sophisticated spy movie spoof that will tickle adult pet lovers and still capture kids 6 and older with its boy-and-his-dog love story and pet slapstick. Read full review
80
SalonStephanie Zacharek
An hour and a half of giddy, ridiculous fun. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
One of the movie's most enjoyable in-jokes is the way some of the animals actually look a little like the humans doing their voices. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
For its first hour, it's a delightful cloak-and-dagger comedy starring a brave Beagle James Bond and a depraved Persian Dr. Evil. Read full review
70
The New York TimesDana Stevens
Only a sourpuss could fail to be amused by this movie's sight gags and action sequences or to be charmed by its lighthearted good humor. Read full review
67
Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum
The plot and script sag like worn out chew toys just when Cats & Dogs should be in full squeak. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
As delicious as this premise is, Cats & Dogs is about as funny as a hairball left on your pillow. Read full review
63
Miami HeraldRene Rodriguez
Undeniably charming, and kids will certainly enjoy it.
60
Chicago ReaderLisa Alspector
This special-effects animal-action comedy is for heavily identified pet owners. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMark Caro
Some stunts and jokes are genuinely clever. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChronicleBob Graham
It is never less than interesting. But who wants interesting from a movie called Cats & Dogs? It needs to grab the audience by the scruff of the neck and shake it. Read full review
50
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
There are the gadgets and the effects. But Cats and Dogs definitely could have been more fetching.
50
Boston GlobeLoren King
The effects are so showy, and so relentless, that they call attention pretty quickly to the fact that there is not much else to Cats and Dogs. Read full review
50
Seattle Post-IntelligencerPaula Nechak
"Shrek" had some refreshing, genre-twisting innovation but Cats & Dogs plays it safe and nice instead and, by not taking risks, doesn't quite make it out of the doghouse. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Inoffensive fun that kids will love and adults will likely love too, it's a middle of the road affair, but a far cry from roadkill. Read full review
50
New Times (L.A.)Robert Wilonsky
At its best, Cats & Dogs plays like a live-action Tex Avery cartoon, down to the exploding ACME dog bone; it's slapstick and slapdash, full of silly and violent nonsense worth a chuckle or two as dogs slam into glass doors and cats play dead on suburban streets. Read full review
50
VarietyTodd McCarthy
This comically intended battle of the species is family entertainment for families that will buy anything. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyElla Taylor
Plays cleverly to adults, but will fly straight over the heads of minors, who have little but a lone fart joke and wave upon wave of flying fur to keep them laughing. Read full review
50
USA TodayMike Clark
This family entertainment hard sell lags far behind even "Dr. Dolittle 2." Read full review
40
Mr. ShowbizKevin Maynard
A matted hairball of a kiddie flick that's alternately maudlin and slapstickishly violent.
38
New York PostJonathan Foreman
Every good joke in the movie is to be found in those trailers.
30
TV Guide MagazineFrank Lovece
Inconsistency of tone and internal logic plagues the film throughout. Read full review
30
Washington PostRita Kempley
The premise is tragically flawed and politically incorrect. In fact, it is blatantly cat-ist. Read full review
30
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
Irritating, childish and more frantic than funny, Cats & Dogs does manage some few pleasant moments, but they are not worth waiting for. Read full review
25
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
The plot pants so hard -- that it makes less sense than the average pet-food commercial. Read full review
10
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Grindingly tedious.
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