Like Cats & Dogs

A Hallmark movie. At the first sigh, enough for define it. In fact, a not so fair definition. Because it is more than a romance story, a nice confrontation and charming - expected end . It is the film of Mozart and Frank. And the spice is the performance of Gwynyth Walsh. So, good looking actors in lead roles, traits of war between Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn and a cat and a dog as masters of a real beautiful storytelling example.

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.

Lara (Cassidy Gifford) is a recent college graduate now working for her parents' accounting firm. Yet, she is not certain what her future goals are. Having recently been dumped by a boyfriend, she decides to go the Great Northwest and visit college friends. To further her own rest and relaxation, she rents a spectacular lake house. But, oh, horrors! As she is settling in, giving her dog Frank a home tour, another person slips in with HIS CAT MOZART. Handsome Spencer (Wyatt Nash) has rented the same house, with receipts to prove it so. He is finishing a doctoral dissertation and needs peace and quiet. Frank and Mozart take an instant dislike to each other, as do Lara and Spencer. What will they do? After contacting the rental agent, there are problems. There are no immediate houses to rent for the coming week and no other possible solutions. Thus, Lara and Spencer are stuck with each other for the next few. Lara likes taking photos of nature, eating pizza, dogs and loud pop music. In contrast, Spence likes classical turntables, health smoothies, cats and order. This could hardly produce a friendship, let alone a romance, right? Especially when Spencer already has a pretty but domineering galpal who calls constantly? Hallmark, thanks once again. Here is another sweet, funny romance for your gazillion fans. Gifford, daughter of Kathie Lee, is quite fun as the spunky Lara while Nash gives his best button-down, initially smug turn as Spencer. Naturally, animal lovers will also adore Frank and Mozart while sets, costumes, script and zesty direction contribute to an overall high level of satisfaction. Hallmark, as this viewer has stated before, is filling the romantic comedy void that Hollywood has abandoned. So, Hallmark, why not release some of these to the theater and give your fans a great watch on the big screen?

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.

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.