(6½) HOTEL FOR DOGS with Emma Roberts, Jake T Austin, Don Cheadle, Johnny Simmons, Kyla Pratt, Troy Gentile, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, Ajay Naidu and Yvette Nicole Brown. Directed by Thor Freudenthal. (The Bridge, Walmer Park and the Garden Route Mall).

WHO can resist a film packed full of cute kids and even cuter dogs?

If you‘ve seen the trailer or read a synopsis for Hotel for Dogs, you‘ll know exactly what to expect in a film which doesn‘t deliver any surprises, but does have a major feel-good factor in its favour.

Emma Roberts (Julia‘s niece) continues to play similar characters of a feisty, but sweet teenager (as she previously did in Nancy Drew and Aquamarine).

This time she plays Andi, a 16-year-old orphan who has promised her 11-year-old brother Bruce (Jake T Austin) that she won‘t allow them to be split up. Their latest set of foster parents Lois (Lisa Kudrow) and Carl (Kevin Dillon) are two wannabe rock stars who don‘t seem to like children. They ban the duo from keeping their long-time pet dog Friday, so the children come up with a plan to keep the canine in an old abandoned hotel.

But just looking after the one dog turns into a crusade to provide a home for all the strays in the neighbourhood.

They are joined on this mission by Andi‘s love interest Dave (Johnny Simmons), who works at the local pet store, his colleague Heather (Kyla Pratt) and another local boy Mark (Troy Gentile).

Their good intentions lead to clashes with various authorities, their foster parents and their social services officer (Don Cheadle, in a very different role from what we‘re used to seeing him in).

All of the children are well cast, even if Roberts seems to becoming typecast. The hundred or so dogs roaming the hotel are all adorable, providing many hilarious and sweet moments.

The film is predominantly aimed at children, but it will appeal to anyone who is young at heart. – Reviewed by Leon Muston ARTS EDITOR mustonl@avusa.co.za