Have absolutely nothing against Hallmark, quite the opposite. Have made it clear too at how many have left me pleasantly surprised. 'Like Cats and Dogs' is the third 2017 Spring Fever film after 'Love at First Bark' and 'Moonlight in Vermont'. Didn't care for the former, liked the latter quite a lot despite foibles. What drew me in to seeing this, as well as it being part of the completest sake quest, was the premise, which was actually intriguing.
Unfortunately, it is a premise that is not handled very well. 'Like Cats and Dogs' has good things, but on the whole it didn't work. Due to primarily not caring for the characters, not believing in the chemistry and finding that the premise was not handled tastefully. It is not one of the worst Hallmark films, but as far as 2017 Hallmark films go 'Like Cats and Dogs' is a lesser effort and my least favourite of the 2017 Spring Fever films. Did want to like the film but it was not executed well in my view.
'Like Cats and Dogs' is not all bad. Cassidy Gifford does her best bringing charm and energy into her role, a spirited performance that deserved much better character writing. Mozart and Frank are absolutely adorable, fun to watch and basically steal every scene they're in.
It looks good, especially the scenery (which Hallmark often delivered on even in the misfires). The music isn't too loud and didn't feel too much.
Wyatt Nash on the other hand is very wooden and overdoes his character's uptightness to the point that he becomes very cold and detached. Didn't care for either of the two lead characters, she being pushy and borderline creepy (character writing, am not blaming Gifford) and he being uptight, with neither of them really evolving that much. The chemistry also isn't there between them, it is very flimsy in development and too close to antagonistic. Also any growing romance came over as improbable, didn't buy how two polar opposites could ever gel and especially considering how they behave towards each other.
The script is mundane at best and has a lot of awkwardness and cheese, while the initial scenes are so over-written it made me feel really doubtful that any romance would blossom believably (and it doesn't). The story is predictable throughout, any conflict is forced, there is little charm or heart (other than with Mozart and Frank) and the ending is very anti-climactic. The direction is workmanlike at best.
Concluding, not a complete waste but does not work. 4/10.
