"The Truth about Cats and Dogs"

Written by Audrey Wells

Directed by Michael Lehmann

Starring Uma Thurman, Janeanne Garofalo and Ben Chaplin

Some things are difficult to believe, but with good acting, a little romance and a lot of comedy, people can see almost anything as the truth.

In "The Truth about Cats and Dogs" for example, an unlikely story becomes believable with Michael Lehmann's entertaining and persuasive direction.

The charming tale centers around Abby (Janeanne Garofalo), who has everything going for her except her looks. When she tries to avoid an uncomfortable encounter with Brian (Ben Chaplin), a caller on her radio show, she directs his attention toward Noelle (Uma Thurman), the beautiful blonde in her apartment building. He believes he has found the ideal woman, but in reality has stumbled upon two friends who end up pretending to be perfect inside and out.

Chaplin's performance as Brian, a sexy and sensitive man who unknowingly falls head-over-heels in love with two women, leaves a lasting impression. In his character's struggle to uncover the mysteries behind his seemingly faultless love interest, Chaplin's smoldering glances and tortured expressions bring Brian's emotional turmoil to life.

As Abby, the character with a perfect personality, Garofalo delivers witty remarks laden with enough sarcasm to sink a small city. Behind her character's self-doubt, Garofalo reveals enough intelligence and charm to prove that her character's mind rivals the beauty of the physically flawless Noelle.

Playing model and aspiring news broadcaster Noelle, Thurman does her best to breathe life into her character. But by no fault of her own, Thurman's persona as Noelle misses the realistic presence that characters Brian and Abby share. Thurman's personality-lacking part is entertaining, but her disinterest in intellectual pursuits is a violent loser of a boyfriend and occasionally embarrassingly ditzy lines, is too stereotypical to be seen as anything more than a hollow shell of a person.

The plot of the film is difficult to buy into, especially when Brian has the gullibility and naïveté of Lois Lane. In some of the more outrageous circumstances, it is easier to believe in Superman's costume as Clark Kent than Brian's stupidity.

But among scenes riddled with romance and comedy, it is difficult to nit-pick over character and plot development. The film has too many clever lines and magical moments to be dismissed for its unrealistic storyline.

Emily Forster Grade: B