The Truth About Cats & Dogs

The Truth About Cats & Dogs
The movie poster.
Directed by	Michael Lehmann
Produced by	Cari-Esta Albert
Written by	Audrey Wells
Starring	Janeane Garofalo Uma Thurman Ben Chaplin Jamie Foxx
Music by	Howard Shore
Cinematography	Robert Brinkmann
Editing by	Stephen Semel
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	April 26, 1996 (1996-04-26)
Running time	97 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	Unknown
Box office	$34,073,143 (USA)

The Truth About Cats & Dogs is a 1996 American romantic comedy film, starring Janeane Garofalo, Uma Thurman, Ben Chaplin, and Jamie Foxx. It was directed by Michael Lehmann and written by Audrey Wells. The original music score was composed by Howard Shore.

Plot summary

Abby Barnes (Garofalo) is a veterinarian who hosts a Los Angeles radio show called The Truth About Cats and Dogs. Abby strikes up an unexpected friendship with her neighbor Noelle Slusarsky (Thurman), a "traditionally attractive" model who is sweet but not very bright. When Abby makes a blind date with a caller to her show, Brian (Chaplin), her insecurity with her own appearance leads her to persuade Noelle to pretend to be Abby when meeting the date. Unfortunately, both women develop feelings for the man, leading to a comedic series of misunderstandings as the unintended consequences of their deception grow deeper.

Brian's persistance in pursuing "Abby" is continually thwarted as Noelle alternately eludes him, manouvers him toward the real Abby, and (when Abby is unable to shed her insecurities) ultimately pursues him herself, only to avoid him again when she reflects on her actions. Abby, disguised as her own fictional assistant, "Donna", hints that it is really she that Brian has intellectually and emotionally connected with over a series of increasingly intimate phone conversations. Brian is convinced that he is having those conversations with Noelle, and fails to consider Abby romantically. Abby accepts this as reinforcement of her negative self-image. Brian, distressed by Noelle's changing attitude, corners "Donna" in Abby's apartment where he finds evidence of Abby's real identity. As Abby and Noelle attempt to explain, Brian becomes convinced that he is the target of a practical joke and leaves in disgust.

Days later, Abby approaches Brian at his regular bar and explains what happened, but Brian curtly dismisses her. Weeks later, Brian's dog appears at the radio station with a pair of roller skates and instructions for Abby to put them on. When she does so, the dog drags her to an outdoor park where Brian is waiting for her. He explains that Abby and Noelle's antics had left him confused, but that it was Abby that he had fallen for during their phone conversations, and that the only reason he was attracted to Noelle was because he thought she was Abby. He suggests they start again, and Abby happily agrees.

Notes

Although the film was a decent commercial success, Garofalo was very unhappy about the film, calling it "corny" and unrealistic.

Several years later, Garofalo became a radio talk show host for real (something she'd maintained for years in interviews that she wanted to do), when she co-hosted The Majority Report on Air America Radio.

Cast

Actor	Role
Janeane Garofalo	Abby Barnes
Uma Thurman	Noelle Slusarsky
Ben Chaplin	Brian
Jamie Foxx	Ed
James McCaffrey	Roy
Richard Coca	Eric
Stanley DeSantis	Mario
Antoinette Valente	Susan
Mitch Rouse	Bee Man
David Cross	Male Radio Caller (voice) Bookstore Man
Mary Lynn Rajskub	Female Radio Caller (voice)
Bob Odenkirk	Bookstore Man

Reception

The film has a 83% 'fresh' rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

See also

• The Truth About Cats & Dogs (soundtrack)
• Cyrano de Bergerac (fictional character)

External links

• "The 'Truth' About Stardom", a 1996 Entertainment Weekly article about Garofalo, Thurman, and the making of The Truth About Cats & Dogs.
• The Truth About Cats & Dogs at the Internet Movie Database
• The Truth About Cats & Dogs at AllRovi