Hollywood Turns To Pooches To Cheer Up Recession-Hit Cinemagoers!

Hollywood is going to get man's best friend to entertain people in the year 2009.

If 2008 saw Batman movie The Dark Knight and other superhero blockbusters, 2009 will be the year of the dog for filmgoers, as a slew of canine adventures hits the big screen.

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One of the dog flicks is Beverly Hills Chihuahua, starring Jamie Lee Curtis, a family film which proved the surprise hit of the season in the US.

It comes out in Britain on January 16 and features Drew Barrymore as the voice of Chloe, a pampered Los Angeles pooch who is dognapped by Mexican gangsters.

The flick includes 200 dogs, including the tiny star, a Chihuahua called Papi, which, in real life, was rescued from an animal shelter.

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It proved to be Disney's biggest ever October opening, taking 29 million dollars in its debut weekend in America.

In February 2009, three films will be released in which the canine stars upstage their human counterparts.

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John Travolta lends his voice to a German shepherd in the animated comedy 'Bolt', while 17-year-old Emma Roberts is the young star of 'Hotel For Dogs', a light-hearted story about two children who set up a home for strays.

In the month of March, Britain will see the opening of 'Marley And Me', which stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.

It is based on the best-selling memoir by John Grogan, a journalist for the New York Times who received his largest ever postbag when he wrote apiece about adopting a Labrador puppy affectionately referred to as "the world's worst dog".

According to psychologists, the canine-related films are perfect fodder for recession-hit Britain.

"When people don't have very much money, they don't want to watch ridiculously expensive blockbusters, or films about terrorism and other dark subjects; they want comfort films, just as people turn to comfort food when they're down," The Telegraph quoted Dr Sandra Wheatley, psychologist and author, as saying.

"These films make you smile. Children love them and for adults there is the 'Lassie factor'. Most importantly, seeing the relationship between humans and man's best friend reminds you about love and friendship - the things that really matter," Dr. Wheatley added.

Source-ANI
SK

Hollywood Turns to Pooches to Cheer Up Recession-hit Cinemagoers!