MovieChat Forums > Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) Discussion > The Real Reason Why Everybody Hates this...

The Real Reason Why Everybody Hates this Movie

posted 16 years ago by Ant423
28 replies | jump to latest

I heard about this movie long before it came out and I saw the poster for it and thought "Wow, this looks bad." But I figured that it was a simple kid's movie, and that when the trailer will come out, it might actually seem ok.

I finally saw the trailer at the theatres a couple of months later (I can't remember what movie I was watching) and when I saw the whole dance sequence, and all those creepy, CGI dogs shouting "Chihuahua", I thought, "Oh Lord."

I felt extremely uncomfortable and wanted to walk out. My friends looked embarassed and confused. People in the theatre were shouting and laughing.

My point? It's all about the trailer. I never actually saw the movie, so I can't judge it, (Though from what I read it doesn't seem that bad) but it doesn't matter. BHC could be the greatest movie of all time for all I care, but because of that odd and ridiculous trailer, I felt ashamed to go and see it, as did my friends.

Based on how much money the movie made, I can't say the trailer ruined it, but I know for many, including me, it was a big turn off.

[–] novastar_6 16 years ago

Well you know I saw the ads and thought it was going to be some kind of Paris Hiltonish fru fru movie and wasn't going to be any good, maybe worth one laugh. But I went and I was wrong and I really enjoyed myself, the movie's actually rather good for a family movie and it's plenty funny.

[–] sailboatsairplanes 16 years ago

True. When I saw the trailer for this I thought, "You've got to be kidding me!" My friend asked me to see it with her yesterday, however, so I went and it was surprisingly enjoyable.

[–] moore2772 16 years ago

You're right. This is a very enjoyable movie. The trailer IS terrible. It was a post-production "production number" and the scene doesn't even appear in the movie. Not even in the credits, where it would have been kinda "cute." There are 2 trailers, and the other one is much better- Disney should pull the first one.
I agree that this must be the the real reason so many people have given this film a "1." If they had actually SEEN the movie, they would have certainly rated it higher.

[–] phelpsg1 16 years ago

I finally saw Beverly Hills Chihuahua, yesterday, and thought it was great! A great feel-good movie. But my only disappointment was that the Busby-Berkeley-type scene that was in the trailer was NOT in the movie.... I had been looking forward to it. Maybe it'll be in the "extra scenes" on the DVD.

[–] lacus-odii 16 years ago

Besides all that, which I totally agreed with, I was seriously turned off by the phonetic spelling of "chihuahua" under the title. Have we gotten that stupid as a nation? Even for kids who are learning to spell, it's not that hard to ask a parent or teacher. I'm tired of the media enabling stupidity, and Disney seems to be at the forefront of this.

"A naked American man stole my balloons."

[–] docudrama67 16 years ago

The real story is they cut the trailer before they even made the movie. And the incredible response to the trailer is the reason that Disney put the film into production. So, while you may have hated the trailer but kids all over the country loved it.

I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.

[–] abchulett 16 years ago

We thought it might be kind of fun, based on the trailer. Took our 10-yo daughter and her chihuahua-owner friend to see it. They enjoyed it. For me it set a new record in eye-rolling moments. Monumentally stupid, insipid, and inane. The CGI movement of the dogs' mouths is very badly done. The plot is a rehash of about 1000 other equally stupid movies, but the kids don't know that so it's OK for them.

[–] logandoe 16 years ago

To the parents that take their kids to these films...

You take them because you think THEY will like it (and some of you seem to enjoy it as well apparently...somehow).

Pixar is somehow able to create intelligent family films that work on several levels, that don't talk down to children OR their parents. They create entertaining, artistic, thoughtful films that are suitable for most everyone.

Kids DON'T need to be talked down to with the likes of films like Beverly Hills Chihuahua. There are better things out there for them. You just have to find them. Yes, it may take a little searching. It's worth it, believe me.

...Bratz is, dare I say, part of the ongoing downfall of today's children's intelligence.

[–] albertfoster 16 years ago

logandoe,
Pixar, I believe is the animation subsidiary of Walt Disney Pictures.
Disney is the parent of Pixar.
Perhaps someday Pixar will make an animated version of BHC.

I am a great grand parent and yes I enjoyed this film and will own it on DVD the day it comes out.
All my children, their children and their children will have the opportunity to see this film.
Yes I own most of the Pixar movie DVDs as well.
It is so nice having the things my offspring can enjoy.

In my opinion Beverly Hills Chihuahua does not talk down to children but instead gives some needed advice to parents about adopting pets as opposed to buying outright. It also advises to as you pointed out do a little searching or better yet research before you adopt.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua is a cute movie for all ages.
It is not irresponsible nor an animated film (Pixar's speciality)it is rather a live action animal film (Disney's speciality).
It is a family film that delivers good messages for young and old alike.

I do disagree with your opinion however I don't disrespect it.
You have a right to your opinion just as I have a right to mine.
Did you see the movie or are you just jumping on the Trash BHC bandwagon?
That seems to be the in fad on these forums.
I have noticed other forums from other websites where the BHC movie is well accepted and rated quite high.

It is doing quite well at the box office.
Dropping as expected here but now in worldwide release should earn over $100,000,000 soon.

[–] docudrama67 16 years ago

Seriously, IMDB has become the place where a certain group of movie fan goes to push their agenda rather than a legitimate movie site with a wide variety of film fans. I don't know when that happened but it is very true.

Beverly Hills Chihuahua was a well crafted, fairly entertaining family comedy that had some nice messages and a little education thrown in for good measure. It should be saluted. But on IMDB it will always be trashed whereas a poorly crafted, sloppily written movie about pot smoking slackers will always make the top 250 at least for the first weekend.

Now, I am no movie snob. I thoroughly enjoyed both Harold and Kumar films and I've seen everything from Man on a Wire (great), Choke (I admired then effort but didn't like the final product) and How To Lose Friends and Alienate People (just dreadful even with a great cast) this fall. I just think a movie that is crafted as well as BHC and enjoyed by as many people as it has been is what I would call quality entertainment and the idea of trashing it is just absurd. IMHO.

I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am.

[–] simenkummen 15 years ago

Very good post.

However, You seem to have turned my curiosity up a notch :)
I'm wondering how old you, and your children/grandchildren are? You are a GREAT grand parent?

[–] Camden003 15 years ago

WOW...are you really a great grand parent? You must at least be 80 something! Many people your age don't use the internet or post on message boards.

[–] easybullet3 16 years ago

the Disney Pixar movie: "Ratatouille" did the same, 'rat-a-too-ee' was written in brackets below the main title in several posters.

[–] RonnieRocket 16 years ago

You know its an amazingly astute observation to deduce through modern detective work that it was the trailer that made people not want to see this movie. I mean, I saw the preview to this movie and thought about balloons. I didn't get very far with my observation. But now I know why this movie looked so bad. It was the trailer all along! Maybe you could help me some more. Why is it that when I hold my hands on the lit stove that they begin to hurt? I am going to guess it has something to do with a picture of a stove.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] stephencolbertslover 16 years ago

i only saw one trailer, and i thought that it was really cute. i wasnt awre there was another trailer, does anybody have a link?

Bringing teenagers and psychiatric drugs together is like opening a lemonade stand in the desert.

[–] EndorasBox 16 years ago

The OP is absolutely right. The minute I saw that trailer I practically gagged and I thought there was no way I'd see BHC. But my boyfriend owns a Chihuahua and wanted to see it really badly, so we went. I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't a Disney classic but it was pretty good. So really, the god-awful trailer was the problem.

[–] hart_mary_anne 15 years ago

I must say that I saw the trailer at the theater, and told my kids there was no way that I was being dragged to that movie. Famous last words. One rainy day, pressure was brought to bear as they had both saved their pocket money specially, and my husband insisted that if he had to endure the film so did I.

I actually enjoyed it! Not all of it, as I think dogs look silly in clothes (my opinion, and I know other people think differently. I even dress my dog in a sweater in the snow sometimes when she is shivering, and I think she looks silly but I'm digressing.) Even my husband laughed twice and never left the theater, and I practically have to pay him to watch a movie all the way through with me at home.

My kids adored the movie. They are both dog fanatics, and we have watched everything else kid friendly with dogs in it.

Yes, the movie was silly, and no, I don't think there was anything remotely educational about it, but it was a fun way to spend a cold dull day, and sure beat vacuuming the house.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Ant423 15 years ago

Yeah, I guess "ashamed" was too strong a word. But the trailer certainly did embarrass me and my friends, as I'm sure it did quite a few people. That being said, I would have never watched the movie anyways, since kid movies generally dont interest me.

[–] JupiterStorm 15 years ago

I hated the trailer, and I hated the movie even more. I took my nephew to see it and he begged me to leave just half way through the movie. I took him to the park instead.

"Children, we're starting. Put down that antenna..." - The Addams Family

[–] peanuttfamily 15 years ago

The reson i haed this movie is that it insulted my intelligence

[–] groucho3710 15 years ago

Oh for pete's sake, intelligence? You were expecting a documentary on the breeding and showing of Chihuahuas? This was a cute little kid movie that may have erred in the usual Disney way of making animals so human that kids grow up thinking they're just furry people who can't talk (out loud anyway), but at least it showed that it's not great to either over-indulge OR torture animals, and that there are a lot of creatures out there who could use good permanent normal homes. And the trailer, which I saw one time several months ago, was the reason I wanted to see the movie. I can't even remember what was in it now, but at the time I thought it was a scream. People are so damn critical. Honestly.

http://katharinefans.com/

[–] Brotha-From-Anotha-Motha 15 years ago

Yeah but usually a GOOD "cute little kid movie" (nicely done) should have a story that isn't stupid and jokes that are funny. Everybody hates this movie because it was awful.

[–] Lucky1375 15 years ago

I saw the song-and-dance trailer, and I thought it looked god-awful. Me and my fiancé sat there cringing at it, and laughing at how stupid the film looked. We recently got unlimited cinema cards, so we can see as many films as we want for a set amount, and decided to go and watch this, just to see if it was really as awful as it looked.

We were pleasantly surprised, but it certainly didn't set our worlds alight. The film just felt quite disjointed, particularly towards the start, and it lacked the charm that good childrens' films have. However, the second half was a lot better, and I actually started giving a damn about the characters, rather than feeling completely indifferent, like I had at the start.

It's not a completely awful film, but I really don't think it'll appeal to that many people. I rated it a 4 on here, mainly because it picked up halfway through. I found some of the dialogue a bit strange, and I thought it was an odd choice to have lots of hard-to-understand accents in a childrens' film.

Coming back to the original point, yes, I think the trailer puts a lot of people off. It gets you talking, but only to mock how ridiculous the film looks.

[–] JupiterStorm 15 years ago

To the parents that take their kids to these films...

You take them because you think THEY will like it (and some of you seem to enjoy it as well apparently...somehow).

Pixar is somehow able to create intelligent family films that work on several levels, that don't talk down to children OR their parents. They create entertaining, artistic, thoughtful films that are suitable for most everyone.

Kids DON'T need to be talked down to with the likes of films like Beverly Hills Chihuahua. There are better things out there for them. You just have to find them. Yes, it may take a little searching. It's worth it, believe me.

Well said, I completely agree, mate.

"If a Soldier's pride means hurting somebody, then I don't want it..." - Sailor Moon

[–] captainofiron 15 years ago

I watched this movie on a flight back from Moscow and I really enjoyed it, at first I thought no way am I going to watch this movie, but it turned out to be very enjoyable.

Its no 10/10, but its a good family film

The reason I think many people dont like this movie (that actually saw it) is because there is a lot of double sided Mexican jokes in there.

And if your not brown you will not fully get some of the stuff in there.

Anyways

Esse Quam Videri

[–] draculu 15 years ago

The trailer totally misrepresents the movie. In fact, the entire marketing campaign is misleading (on purpose or not).

It seems like there's a conflict somewhere between the initial intention of the script and the final shooting script. There are TWO hero protagonists in this one. Papi and Delgado. What's confusing is that everyone can see that there's an uncertainty in the story as who the 'hero' is. Sure Papi goes on the search for Chloe, but their 'romance' is never strongly established.

The 'real' hero of the story is Delgado, who actually does all the heavy lifting, and is also likeable as the 'lone wolf with a past' character. On top of that, he has a backstory and has character development through his regaining of smell capabilities and police dog status. Chloe becomes a 'real' chihuahua, Piper and Sam end up wanting to date. The other dogs find homes, the rat and iguana end up doing good things.

Other than aunt Viv, Papi is the only character who doesn't seem to go through any major transformation. And Chloe accepts Papi as her 'savior' at the end when its obvious that Delgado has been the one doing the saving. So the 'reward' really should go to Delgado, cause Papi didn't do much.

Other than this confusion within the story, the rest of the movie was surprisingly enjoyable - after seeing the posters and trailer, it did indeed look like a pile.