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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

---

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

Janeane Garofalo has been quite vocal about how unhappy she was with the film. Initially it was an independent film, but it was turned into a big-studio project when Uma Thurman signed on. Garofalo remarked,"I think it's soft and corny. The soundtrack makes you want to puke. And everybody's dressed in Banana Republic clothing. The original script and intent was very different. It was supposed to be a small-budget independent film, with a lot more complexity to the characters. When it became a studio commercial film, Abby and the guy wind up together at the end." Garofalo has since disowned the film, calling it anti-feminist.

---

Goofs

When is taking photographs of Abby, he switches from a tripod-mounted to a camera to a hand held camera. When he does this, he doesn't change the flash to the new camera (the flash hot shoe is shown to have nothing connected), yet the flash still fires. The flashes in question are studio flash heads powered from a remote pack. They are fired via a PC sync cord which can be clearly seen attached to the PC sync socket on the left hand side of each body.

---

Quotes

Dr. Abby Barnes: [to a radio caller:] Dogs don't like to be left alone. It's not like, when you leave, he goes, "Great, time to finish writing my novel!" No, when their humans leave, dogs get depressed, and they show it.

---

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.

---

Connections

Referenced in Nostalgia Critic: Cats & Dogs (2016)

---

Soundtracks

You Do Something To Me
Written and Performed by Paul Weller
Produced by Brendan Lynch and Paul Weller
Courtesy of Go! Discs/London Records
by arrangement with PolyGram Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

It would never happen- but sweet

This film is really sweet, even more so if you are an animal lover. The three leads are all perfectly cast, with Janeane Garofalo doing an absolutely excellent job as the radio show vet whose self-conscious about her image. This film really does stretch credibility, but then most romantic comedies tend to due to their very nature. The dog has to be one of the cutest I have seen in a film- probably because he is a real dog rather than the little dogs that many comedies seem to favor. A very pleasant way to spend 90 minutes.