Preview: Hotel for Dogs (2009)

Synopsis:

A group of kids discover a rundown hotel where they can keep and take care of the various stray dogs in the city instead of them being taken to the pound. They entertain the pooches with fantastical inventions, but draw unwanted attention from the city who wants to shut the whole operation down.

• Poster: C; D+; D-; C-; D; D+; C-

Review:

None of these posters is more than kid-friendly advertising. There is very little of artistic value, which makes for an ill-suited viewing experience, unless you like silly dog poses in people situations. The order above left to right is the order of grades I gave starting at the top poster and working down.

Unless the abandoned hotel gets a makeover at the end of the film, this poster feels a bit forced. It will certainly appeal to young kids who might want to own the poster for being "clever", but strategic cleverness doesn't beset represent kids films and is more a disservice than most things.

• Trailer: B; B-

Review:

It looks like your typical Saturday monring kids program about a bunch of smart kids giving strays a new lease on life. There doesn't seem to be very much substance hinted at in the trailer, but it looks innocuous and cute nonetheless.

Whereas the first trailer promised an interesting, canine adventure, this second trailer adds even more to the proceedings, making it easier to tell that there will be little more than fluff and weak plotting wrapped in adorable puppy hijinx and interesting inventions.

Oscar Prospects:

This movie's Oscars would more likely come from the ASPCA, not from AMPAS.

Release Date:

• January 16, 2009

Full Review Synopsis:

I have not seen this film.

-Wesley Lovell (August 4, 2008) Original

-Wesley Lovell (November 2, 2008) New Trailer, New Posters

-Wesley Lovell (May 3 2009) New Poster; Buy the Poster Enabled