The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996)

A successful veternarian & radio show host with low self-esteem asks her model friend to impersonate her when a handsome man wants to see her.

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writer:

Audrey Wells

Stars:

Uma Thurman, Janeane Garofalo, Ben Chaplin

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Uma Thurman	...	Noelle
Janeane Garofalo	...	Abby
Ben Chaplin	...	Brian
Jamie Foxx	...	Ed
James McCaffrey	...	Roy
Richard Coca	...	Eric
Stanley DeSantis	...	Mario
Antoinette Valente	...	Susan
Mitch Rouse	...	Bee Man
La Tanya M. Fisher	...	Emily
Faryn Einhorn	...	Child Model
David Cross	...	Voice of Male Radio Caller / Bookstore Man
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Female Radio Caller (voice)
Bob Odenkirk	...	Bookstore Man
Dechen Thurman	...	Bookstore Cashier

Storyline

Janeane Garofalo plays Dr. Abby Barnes, the "Truth About Cats and Dogs" radio question-and-answer show host who unwittingly entices a listener over the radio with her soothing voice and personality. This listener, Brian, tries to meet the Abby from the radio, but Noelle, played by Uma Thurman, is mistaken for the real thing when Brian comes to the studio. Instead of clearing things up right away, the self-conscious Abby allows her best friend, Noelle, a tall, stunning blonde, to take her place for a while. Abby takes on the made-up persona of Donna, while thinking Brian would never go for her, a short, cute, brunette, who thinks she's unattractive. As the real Abby woos Brian over the phone and radio, Noelle, the pseudo-Abby, takes her place in the flesh. As time goes on, Abby feels more and more confident that Brian would rather have the beautiful Noelle than the simply attractive Abby.

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Plot Keywords:

friendship between women | veterinarian | radio show host | love triangle | insecurity | 

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Taglines:

Brian's about to discover the woman he loves isn't the woman he loves.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 on appeal for a sex-related scene and brief strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 April 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

La verdad acerca de perros y gatos

Filming Locations:

Le Borghese Apartments - 450 North Sycamore Avenue, Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$145,655, 19 July 1996

Gross USA:

$34,073,143, 11 August 1996

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox,Noon Attack

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although this is Janeane Garofalo's first starring role, Uma Thurman naturally got top billing because she was a much more famous name, even though she only gets half the screen time Garofalo does.

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Goofs

When Brian is crawling on the floor towards Hank when he first talks to Abby on the phone, you can clearly see kneepads on under his jeans

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Quotes

Dr. Abby Barnes: You burp and guys think its adorable. You puke and they line up to hold your hair back.

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Crazy Credits

In the opening scene, when Janeane Garofalo is about to get on the elevator, as the credits come to an end, Micheal Lehmann's credit is crushed by the elevator doors.

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Connections

Referenced in Who's the Caboose? (1999)

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Soundtracks

Well I Lied
Written by Chris Hayes and Kevin Hayes
Performed by The Robert Cray Band
Produced by Robert Cray
Courtesy of Mercury Records
by arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

I'm impressed by the comments here.

This is a lovely, funny and well done romantic comedy. I have to admit I am impressed by the folks who continue to say they felt JG was too pretty to be Abby and that it just didn't ring true to them because of that fact. Well I'm here to tell you folks that this movie is closer to the truth than you realize. One of the things that DOES make this film soo good is that Abby is truly a lovely woman but is surrounded by main stream media and what it says beauty is, namely, Noelle, played admirably by Uma Thurman. Yes Abby is a beautiful woman, but as a woman who looks nothing like all the adds on TV or magazines like JG it is easy to see why she would think she isn't. And honestly I know way too many men who would pass her by in favor of the Noelles of this world. I have a beautiful friend who is very similar to JG and she has had the same problems Abby has in this movie because of perceived images of beauty. THAT is the message this film is trying to make that Abby is beautiful and the media has put too much emphasis on stereotypes. No I don't think they should have hired an UGLIER actress that is simply ridiculous, the film was not about an ugly woman but a beautiful woman who has fallen into the trap of "THINKING" she is unattractive! Watch the movie again folks, you'll see what I mean.