Hotel for Dogs (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hotel for Dogs |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Thor Freudenthal |
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| Starring | |
| Music by | John Debney |
| Cinematography | Michael Grady |
| Editing by | Sheldon Kahn |
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| Release date(s) | January 16, 2009 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Money made | $117 million |
Hotel for Dogs is a fun family comedy movie from 2009. It was directed by Thor Freudenthal and is based on a book by Lois Duncan. The film stars Jake T. Austin, Emma Roberts, Kyla Pratt, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, and Don Cheadle.
The story is about two siblings, Andi and Bruce, who are orphans. They live in foster care and secretly rescue stray dogs. They even bring their own dog, Friday, to an empty hotel. The movie shows how they create a special home for many dogs.
This film was made by Nickelodeon Movies and DreamWorks Pictures. It was filmed in Los Angeles and Universal City, California. The dogs in the movie were trained for many months before filming began. Hotel for Dogs was released on January 16, 2009. It was a big success, earning $117 million around the world.
Contents
The Story of Hotel for Dogs
Andi, Bruce, and Friday
The movie begins with teen orphans Andi (Emma Roberts) and Bruce (Jake T. Austin). They try to get food for their dog, Friday. They are caught and taken to the police station. Their social worker, Bernie Wilkins (Don Cheadle), picks them up. He takes them back to their foster parents, Lois and Carl Scudder (Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon). The Scudders do not like pets. Bernie warns Andi and Bruce that getting into trouble is risky.
Finding a Secret Home
One morning, Friday goes looking for food and is caught by Animal Control. Andi and Bruce visit a pet shop to ask about him. There, they meet Dave (Johnny Simmons) and Heather (Kyla Pratt). They tell the kids to check the pound. Friday is at the pound, but they cannot get him without their foster parents. The kids find a way to get Friday back.
While walking home, they see some trouble and run away. Friday hides in an abandoned hotel. Andi and Bruce find him there, along with two other dogs. They name them Georgia and Lenny. The kids decide to leave Friday and the other dogs at the hotel for the night.
More Dogs Arrive
The next day, Bruce stays at the hotel to keep the dogs quiet. Andi goes to the pet shop for dog food. She meets Dave and Heather again. Andi tells them that her parents often rescue dogs. Dave asks her to take in three more dogs that need homes. Andi agrees, and soon they have six dogs to care for.
The friends work hard to make the hotel a good place for the dogs. A local boy named Mark (Troy Gentile) also helps them. They keep rescuing more stray dogs, and the hotel becomes a home for many furry friends.
Trouble and Rescue Efforts
Later, Dave invites Andi to a party, and she agrees to go. Meanwhile, Bruce gets into trouble with Carl and Lois. He was caught trying to get a hairdryer. At the party, an old friend tells everyone that Andi and Bruce are orphans. This makes Andi upset.
Bruce escapes his house and finds the hotel in chaos. Lois and Carl follow him, and the police are called. All the dogs are found and sent to the pound. Bruce and Andi are taken by the police. Friday is also sent to the pound. Lois and Carl refuse to take the kids back. Bernie has to send Andi and Bruce to different foster homes.
A New Beginning
The dogs are scheduled to be put down the next day. But Friday escapes the pound! He finds Dave, Heather, and Mark, who then find Andi and Bruce. Bernie explores the hotel and finds a dog named Harley. He realizes how much the kids cared for the dogs.
Andi and Bruce break into the pound to free the dogs. They hope the dogs will cross the county line to be safe. But the dogs go back to the hotel, thinking it is their real home. Many people, reporters, and police follow the dogs to the hotel. Bernie arrives and explains how Andi and Bruce created a family for the dogs. He tells everyone the stories of the dogs, and the crowd is touched. The police allow the children to keep the dogs together.
Bernie tells Andi and Bruce that he and his wife will adopt them. The hotel re-opens as a "Hotel For Dogs." People can now adopt strays or board their own dogs there. Andi, Bruce, and Friday are happy in their new family.
Meet the Cast
- Emma Roberts plays Andi, Bruce's older sister. She later becomes Dave's girlfriend. Emma wanted to be part of the movie as soon as she read the script.
- Jake T. Austin plays Bruce, Andi's younger brother. He is good at building things. His inventions help feed and entertain the dogs at the hotel. Many boys tried out for this role before Jake was chosen.
- Johnny Simmons plays Dave, who manages a pet store. He helps Andi and Bruce rescue and care for the stray dogs. He later becomes Andi's boyfriend.
- Troy Gentile plays Mark, a boy who lives near Andi and Bruce. He is eager to help with the dogs. He later becomes Heather's boyfriend.
- Kyla Pratt plays Heather, an employee at the pet store. She also helps rescue dogs. She later becomes a guide at the Hotel For Dogs and Mark's girlfriend. Kyla joined the film because Don Cheadle was in it.
- Don Cheadle plays Bernie Wilkins, a kind social worker. He tries to find a home for Andi and Bruce. He later adopts them. Don said he wanted to do a film his kids could see.
- Robinne Lee plays Carol Wilkins, Bernie's wife. She also cares for the children. She later becomes Andi and Bruce's adoptive mother.
- Lisa Kudrow plays Lois Scudder, Andi and Bruce's foster mother. She is a controlling person who wants to be a rock star. This was Lisa's first time working with dogs in a movie.
- Kevin Dillon plays Carl Scudder, Andi and Bruce's foster father. He is an aging rocker who still dreams of being a star. Kevin enjoyed singing and playing guitar in the movie.
- Yvette Nicole Brown plays Ms. Camwell.
- Gregory Sporleder plays ACO Herb Dooley, the chief of the animal pound workers.
- Eric Edelstein plays ACO Max, a strict animal pound worker.
- Ajay Naidu plays ACO Jake, another strict animal pound worker.
- Maximiliano Hernández plays Officer Mike, a police officer who watches Andi and Bruce.
- Andre Ware plays Officer Jeff, Officer Mike's partner.
- Jonathan Klein plays Evan, a pawn shop owner.
- Kenny Vibert plays Jason, an old friend of Andi's.
- Cosmo the Dog plays Friday, Andi and Bruce's pet dog. He is a Jack Russell Terrier.
Music in the Movie
The music for Hotel for Dogs was created by John Debney. He recorded the film's score at the Eastwood Scoring Stage.
See also
In Spanish: Hotel para perros para niños
