102 Dalmatians parents guide

102 Dalmatians Parent Guide

Overall B

After spending a few years behind bars where she has undergone extensive psychotherapy, Cruella DeVil (Glenn Close) is released from jail and pronounced cured. But can a convicted dog-napper (and participant in the illegal fur trade) ever really change her spots?

Release date November 21, 2000

Violence B-
Sexual Content A-
Profanity A
Substance Use A-

Why is 102 Dalmatians rated G? The MPAA rated 102 Dalmatians G

Run Time: 100 minutes

Parent Movie Review

What’s black and white and the same thing all over? 102 Dalmatians—sequel to the live action 101 Dalmatians that was a based on Disney’s original 1960’s animated feature.

After spending a few years behind bars where she has undergone extensive psychotherapy, we are led to believe Cruella DeVil (Glenn Close), a convicted dog-napper (and participant in the illegal fur trade), has had a significant change of heart and has become a raving dog-lover. But Cloe Simon (Alice Evans), her parole officer, is convinced the puppy poacher can’t change her spots—probably because one of the dogs Cloe owns is a Dalmatian named Dipstick, who (coincidentally) was one of Cruella’s captured canines in the last movie.

Yet even Cloe has to reassess her opinion of the eccentric woman when Cruella locks up her furs and makes a sizable donation to the struggling Second Chance animal shelter, giving it a new leash on life. Volunteering her time and efforts to the manager Kevin Shepherd (Ioan Gruffudd), Cruella applies her own unique style to everything from doggy hair doos to dressing up the establishment. In every way, Cruella seems perfectly rehabilitated—until the fateful day she meets Cloe’s Dalmatians. Thrown into a psychotic state, Ms. DeVil begins seeing spots before her eyes and re-discovers the Cruella that still lurks within.

Between the decisions to tone down the cartoon-style violence (although the last half-hour has Cruella “shaked and baked” and her minion butler physically pummeled) and not let Glenn Close scream as often, I found this Dalmatian caper easier to sit through than the last. As well, I didn’t detect a single profanity aside from Cruella’s name calling. Sexual moments were limited to a fashion show featuring a brief shot of a model wearing a fur bikini, and Cruella’s wardrobe throughout the film, that is as uptight as her character.

However, aside from a creative scene where we view Cloe and Kevin sharing a spaghetti dinner while the puppies watch the similar classic encounter from Lady and the Tramp, these Dalmatians are really the same dogs—with rearranged spots.


Starring Glenn Close, Gerard Depardieu. Running time: 100 minutes. Theatrical release November 21, 2000. Updated

102 Dalmatians Parents' Guide

Cloe has four dogs in her small flat. Are Dalmatians the type of animals that would typically enjoy being confined to a small area? For more information, check The Dalmatian Club of America at http://www.thedca.org/.

This movie does not show the rehabilitation of law offenders in a positive light. Do you believe that people who have broken the law are capable of changing their ways and improving their lives?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of 102 Dalmatians movie is September 15, 2008. Here are some details…

The live action version of 102 Dalmatians releases to DVD, with almost as many bonus extras. Check out deleted scenes, behind the scenes featurettes (Creating Curella, Animal Actors and Designing Dalmatians), an audio commentary with director Kevin Lima and some of the animal coordinators and trainers. There are also puppy outtakes put together in a music video style (Puppy Action Overload), tips for perspective pet owners (How to Pick a Dog That Fits Your Personality), and interactive features (Visual Effects 102 and Curella’s Costume Creator). Audio is available in DTS 5.1 Digital Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound (English), and 5.1 Surround (French and Spanish), with subtitles in Spanish.

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Don’t forget to check out our review of 101 Dalmatians (1961 animated version) and 101 Dalmatians (1996 live action version).

DVD Notes: 102 Dalmatians