Disney goes for a cash grab with 102 Dalmatians. Cruella de Vil is released from prison after being rehabilitated by cutting edge treatment and expensive lawyers. If she ever kidnaps puppies again she would lose her fortune. Her probation officer Chloe has a dalmatian and is also dealing with The Second Chance Dog Shelter owned by Kevin which has financial problems that Cruella buys in order to repair her reputation.The doctors that treated Cruella discover that the sounds of Big Ben undoes all the therapy and the subject reverts to their former behaviour which is exactly what happens as Chloe's office is near Big Ben and when the bells ring Cruella reverts to her former bad self and enlists the help of French fashion designer to steal 102 Dalmatian puppies for a new fur coat.Glenn Close is less hammy here at first as she has to appear calm and cured. Gerard Depardieu certainly camps it up as the cruel fashion designer whose staff in the sweatshop pay him for work.The film continues well from the live action 101 Dalmatians with the two romantic leads replaced. It is cartoonish violent, silly and fun for the kids with a messy finale.The movie is made with style, there are comical chase scenes, animals escaping from their pursuers. There is a wonderful scene where Cruella sees everything in Westminster in dalmatian dots.The young romantic leads are rather bland though and the movie offers little new from the original.

I liked this as a child. Today, not so much. That song in the opening credits is annoying. The whole joke where the parrot thinks he's a dog is not funny. The scene where the dogs are watching Lady and the Tramp and inter-cuts between that and the couple having spaghetti and meatballs made me want to vomit. Remember it was spoofed in Hot Shots 2? That scene was funny, but not this.Also what kind of person takes their dogs to go see a puppet show? These people act like the dogs are human.Also, when Ioan's character gets arrested, how come his dogs get arrested with him? What kind of world is this?And as for the scene where Cruella gets baked into a cake, I'm surprised that she didn't get burnt to death in the oven.However, I will praise Glenn's performance. She IS Cruella.

Maybe because it was the only name at that time, I was fed up with Disney during my childhood and it has stuck me as the best name for light, poetic and educative entertainment. Unfortunately, after each new feature I see now, I'm profoundly unhappy because the name is in fact a mirage and has lost indeed all its magic.Those dalmatians verify this rule: Making a live movie of those pets and reuniting big names in ridiculous parts as well as nice newcomers ("mr. Fantastic", ms Evans) was seductive. But, the recipe doesn't make it. The story is as indigestible as the final cake and the scenes drags loudly. All the energy of the cast is wasted on useless moments as nothing really essential happens. In addition, all these poor action is made intolerable with the never-ending sarcasm of a Jago clone (see the parrot of "Aladin"). The dogs are really leftover and don't do much. Surprisingly, the movie looks cheap for a Disney as the sets looks really like a set. So, now, you know: beware the dogs and beware the brand !

This sequel to 101 Dalmations is pointless. Glenn Close milks a few laughs out of her Cruella De Vil character and that's about it. The puppies remain cute but it all feels calculated. The script as a whole lacks wit or imagination. Eric Idle manages a few decent lines as the parrot Waddlesworth. Ioan Gruffudd and Alice Evans are bland. Gérard Depardieu is wasted. There are a lot of references to previous Disney films that bored viewers may notice. Kids may go for this sequel with its Home Alone style 'family-friendly' violence but adults are best advised to stay away.Overall 3/10