Foster children Andi and Bruce have been placed with a flaky couple who care more for their aspiring rock careers than their charges. Their mischievous tendencies repeatedly get them into trouble. After a close call with the local pound, the kids end up searching for Friday, their secretly adopted dog, in an abandoned old hotel where they find several other stray dogs seeking shelter. They, along with three other local kids, begin caring for the strays. Bruce is a clever inventor whose innovative gadgets ensure top-notch care and constant entertainment for all the dogs. The police storm the hotel and take all the dogs to the pound. The kids attempt to rescue the dogs and it might just land them in separate group homes. Bernie, their social worker, will have to somehow convince the authorities, and perhaps a loving family, that the children were just doing what was right.
MPAA rating: PG; for brief mild thematic elements, language and some crude humor.|||juvenile
DreamWorks Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies present in association with Cold Spring Pictures, a Donners' Company/ Montecito Picture Company production ; produced by Lauren Shuler Donner [and others] ; screenplay by Jeff Lowell and Bob Schooley & Mark McCorkle ; directed by Thor Freudenthal.
Based on the book by Lois Duncan.
Special features: Commentary by Thor Freudenthal, Ewan 'Jack' Leslie, Emma Roberts and Jake Austin; "A home for everyone: the making of Hotel for dogs" featurette; "That's the coolest thing I've ever seen!" featurette; K-9 casting; "Bark on cue!" featurette; The Pedigree Adoption Drive; 8 deleted scenes; photo galleries; theatrical trailer.
Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Don Cheadle, Johnny Simmons, Kyla Pratt, Troy Gentile, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon.
DVD, Region 1, widescreen (1.85:1); Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.
English, dubbed French or dubbed Spanish dialogue, English, French or Spanish subtitles; closed-captioned.
Director of photography, Michael Grady ; editor, Sheldon Kahn ; music, John Debney ; costume designer, Beth Pasternak ; production designer, William Sandell.
