THE WACPINE OF ‘102 DALMATIANS’

WRITING: 1
ATMOSPHERE: 2
CHARACTERS: 5
PRODUCTION: 4
INTRIGUE: 2
NOVELTY: 1
ENJOYMENT: 2

As amazing as it sounds, there is a sequel to the 1996 family classic and needless 101 Dalmatians remake. Unsurprisingly, it is sillier, stupider and much worse. It also somehow feels cheaper and more dated, like a bad BBC sitcom. The story is pointless, either hopelessly reusing elements from the first one or coming up with uninspiring new things in an attempt to feel fresh. The predictable plot never lifts off properly and there is a lack of dramatic tension that would make the climax feel satisfying.

Well, what can I say? This film is painful to watch from beginning to end. It tries too hard to repeat the silly tone of the first film while giving audiences something new to chew on and fails on both accounts. The humour doesn’t land and the action comes across as forcefully goofy.

Glenn Close is the only major returning actor here, and she slips back into the role of Cruella DeVil naturally. The rest of the cast is nothing short of atrocious; Alice Evans in particular. Evans and male lead Ioan Gruffudd have no chemistry and remain even less memorable than the leads in the first film. Eric Idle seems to have a great time voicing the annoyingly dog-like ara, and he’s by far the best and funniest of the actors. Tim McInnerny returns in an expanded role, becoming the Hugh Laurie and Mark Williams of the film, while Gerard Depardieu’s Le Pelt is a horrible pantomime villain.

The music is still too conspicuous and the Cruella designs colourful and crazy, but the CGI has not improved. The visuals ide is somehow even more dated than on the four years older first film. And don’t get me started on the terrible opening credits, which are among the worst I’ve ever seen.

Not even Glenn Close helps to keep the boat afloat this time around. Her pairing with Depardieu and McInnerny doesn't work, the new leading duo is a colourless mess and the dogs aren't all that interesting.

102 Dalmatians seems to genuinely try to tell a new story initially but quickly turns into just another 101 Dalmatians with new character and settings. It's even less refreshing than the first film, while desperately trying to seem like something new.

The first film is no masterpiece but this one is genuinely bad. It is too much of the same and not enough new and exciting. It's too childish to make an impact on adult audiences yet too eventless to excite younger viewers.

WACPINE RATING: 2.42 / 10 = 1 star