Hotel For Dogs : sickly sweet sentimentality

Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother Bruce (Jake T. Austin) are orphans. The only other remaining member of their family is their dog Friday (an amusing reference to "Robinson Crusoe"). But when a foster family is found for them, the kids are devastated to discover that the lady of the house (Lisa Kudrow) categorically refuses to have pets in her home. They will have to hide poor Friday. In the nick of time they find an abandoned hotel, which will soon become a welcoming home for all the abandoned mutts in town.

The adorable canine stars score a perfect ten for dressage, but besides that, "Hotel For Dogs" disappoints: where it lacks originality, it makes up for it with an overdose of sickly sweet sentimentality. Even Lisa Kudrow fails to get two thumbs up. For fans, the DVD bonuses include audio commentaries and a making-of.