Hotel for Dogs (2009)

Two kids secretly take in stray dogs at a vacant hotel.

Director:

Thor Freudenthal

Writers:

Jeff Lowell (screenplay), Robert Schooley (screenplay),

Stars:

Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Don Cheadle

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Emma Roberts	...	Andi
Jake T. Austin	...	Bruce
Don Cheadle	...	Bernie
Johnny Simmons	...	Dave
Kyla Pratt	...	Heather
Troy Gentile	...	Mark
Lisa Kudrow	...	Lois Scudder
Kevin Dillon	...	Carl Scudder
Ajay Naidu	...	ACO Jake
Eric Edelstein	...	ACO Max
Robinne Lee	...	Carol
Yvette Nicole Brown	...	Ms. Camwell
Maximiliano Hernández	...	Officer Mike (as Maximiliano Hernandez)
Andre Ware	...	Officer Jeff
Jonathan Klein	...	Evan

Storyline

Animals are strictly forbidden at Andi and her little brother Bruce's foster home. But for Friday, the adorable dog they secretly care for, they're ready to risk everything. They finally find him an ideal shelter, a huge abandoned hotel that Bruce transforms thanks to his engineering genius. In what has become an incredible paradise for dogs, Friday is soon joined by all kinds of furry friends, so many in fact that their barks alert the neighbors...and the local pound, who can't understand the disappearance of all the stray dogs. Andi and Bruce will have to call on all their friends and all their imagination to stop the hotel's secret from being discovered.

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Plot Keywords:

dog | foster home | abandoned hotel | pet store | pitbull | 

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Taglines:

Bienvenue aux chiens perdus! (Welcome to the lost dogs!)

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief mild thematic elements, language and some crude humor

Details

Official Sites:

DreamWorks / Paramount [fr] DreamWorks / Paramount [us]

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 January 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hotel para perros

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,500,298 (UK) (13 February 2009)

Gross:

$73,023,275 (USA) (22 May 2009)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks SKG, Nickelodeon Movies, Cold Spring Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mentioned in the behind the scenes special features, Emma Roberts tripped and fell while shooting the escape from the shelter. As a result, she was run over and trampled by the dogs, but was unhurt. She apparently had paw prints all over her.

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Goofs

After taking dogs from an Animal Control truck, Mark, Andi, Bruce, Dave and Heather are shown at 48:41 in the alley by the hotel walking abreast toward the camera with dogs in their arms and on leashes. There are 8 cuts (9 shots) from 48:41 to 48:52 with many changes the specific dog(s) each kid controls and with Mark switching from the left side of the screen to the right and then back.

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Quotes

Bernie: You sold a guy a rock in a box for $20.

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Connections

Spoofs Psycho (1960)

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Soundtracks

"The Murder"
from Psycho
Written by Bernard Herrmann

User Reviews

very good family film - enjoyed it thoroughly!

Saw this movie opening night. Took 5 kids and my wife and sis-in-law. all of us enjoyed it. very clean. enjoyable. hilarious at times and well written.

I normally hate child actors, but for once i was not annoyed. Emma Roberts is gorgeous. at 23, she looks young, but has moments in which she gives a glimpse of wisdom. her younger brother in the movie was very tolerable, and in fact delivered some excellent subtlety. neither over acted.

the social worker couple were very good while Lisa kudrow continues to amaze me that she even has a career. OK, now the part that matters: the dogs were hilarious, likable, and intriguing. the plot was very well done and for the first time in years, i am intrigued and eagerly anticipating the "making of" documentary on the DVD. excellent direction, pacing, and scripting.