Like Cats & Dogs

Two strangers are double booked in a nice house. The far fetched and cringe aspect is the female lead seems to be immediately flirting and in the guys personal space when he was typing an email. Then her friend offers her a room in the house but she says no, she's rather stay in a house with a complete stranger even though her whole trip was to see her friend and would that not be the most ideal to hang out with her.

The way the female lead flirts with the random guy despite knowing he has a gf and not knowing about their relationship really made me cringe.

The plot has also been done before, however a little more realistically as in the other film the female lead didn't have somewhere else she could stay.

Have absolutely nothing against Hallmark, quite the opposite. Have made it clear too at how many have left me pleasantly surprised. 'Like Cats and Dogs' is the third 2017 Spring Fever film after 'Love at First Bark' and 'Moonlight in Vermont'. Didn't care for the former, liked the latter quite a lot despite foibles. What drew me in to seeing this, as well as it being part of the completest sake quest, was the premise, which was actually intriguing.

Unfortunately, it is a premise that is not handled very well. 'Like Cats and Dogs' has good things, but on the whole it didn't work. Due to primarily not caring for the characters, not believing in the chemistry and finding that the premise was not handled tastefully. It is not one of the worst Hallmark films, but as far as 2017 Hallmark films go 'Like Cats and Dogs' is a lesser effort and my least favourite of the 2017 Spring Fever films. Did want to like the film but it was not executed well in my view.

'Like Cats and Dogs' is not all bad. Cassidy Gifford does her best bringing charm and energy into her role, a spirited performance that deserved much better character writing. Mozart and Frank are absolutely adorable, fun to watch and basically steal every scene they're in.

It looks good, especially the scenery (which Hallmark often delivered on even in the misfires). The music isn't too loud and didn't feel too much.

Wyatt Nash on the other hand is very wooden and overdoes his character's uptightness to the point that he becomes very cold and detached. Didn't care for either of the two lead characters, she being pushy and borderline creepy (character writing, am not blaming Gifford) and he being uptight, with neither of them really evolving that much. The chemistry also isn't there between them, it is very flimsy in development and too close to antagonistic. Also any growing romance came over as improbable, didn't buy how two polar opposites could ever gel and especially considering how they behave towards each other.

The script is mundane at best and has a lot of awkwardness and cheese, while the initial scenes are so over-written it made me feel really doubtful that any romance would blossom believably (and it doesn't). The story is predictable throughout, any conflict is forced, there is little charm or heart (other than with Mozart and Frank) and the ending is very anti-climactic. The direction is workmanlike at best.

Concluding, not a complete waste but does not work. 4/10.

This TV movie has a predictable and formulaic story, but if you are looking for a good-natured romance, it will fit the bill.

A booking mix-up has two strangers renting the same house at the same time. This is a familiar scenario, complicated by the fact that they own pets that don't get along. Laura Haley (Cassidy Gifford) has a dog named Frank, and Spencer Hodkins (Wyatt Nash) has a cat named Mozart. It seems the stars are aligned against this pair with the dueling pets and the competing leases. Plus Spencer has a girlfriend.

But we know that love will find a way, especially in a Hallmark film. Unfortunately, though, I did not feel much chemistry between the two leads. Cassidy Gifford is the daughter of Frank and Kathie Lee. She is a beautiful woman with lots of energy who is very likable. Wyatt Nash is an alumnus of the "Survivor" series. He plays an uptight character---so much so that it interferes with the credibility of the destined relationship.

There is a twist at the end, but you might see it coming from far away; that doesn't spoil the story, however.

The best part of this film is Cassidy Gifford. Coincidentally, she was in two films with the same title. This one is from 2017.

Yep, that premise has been done and this one follows a lot of those movies in the way it develops. The renters are angry at each other then at the agency. Of course, the agency can't do anything for them and there is no place else in town available. The owner does refund half to each. When it's apparent they are stuck they settle in and start annoying each other. They make rules. The line down the middle, in this case, is only in the refrigerator. One of the rules was that each person could only use the bathroom 3 times in one day. Good luck if you have to go.

This is my second time watching this. Not sure why I gave it 8 stars the first time. I only downgraded one as a result of this time, but I feel like if today was my first time it would be even lower.

Still it was a pleasant enough movie. The dog and cat added a little fun. Cassidy Gifford is appealing as Laura who is a bright eyed optimist. Laura is far more ready to go with the flow at first. Spencer has to get really annoying before she runs away to her friend's house. But they make up and start adapting to each other. That part was a little rushed. Gifford and Wyatt Nash have some chemistry, but it isn't given enough screen time. The acting is OK as is the dialogue, but neither is extraordinary. Same for the scenery.

There is a side story about Laura that leads into the climax more than the relationship. There is also a little twist involving the owner that is obscurely hinted when Laura first enters the house. I noticed the hints on my second time through knowing what the twist was.

Wasn't going to watch this movie because this is one of the very few times that the leading man's appearance was a little off-putting. I think it was his hair (super bad style that accentuated his baby face). But the fun story, plus Cassidy Gifford's performance drew me in. It also helped that I'm a sucker for films that include animals, and the cat & dog were super cute! Definitely recommended