SouthOfTheBorder Tagged Articles at Cinematical

I've been itching for a new Jamie Lee Curtis movie for a while now. When I saw her at hubby Christopher Guest's For Your Consideration premiere, I wondered when on earth we'd get more Curtis. Now the desire is being fulfilled, but not really in the way I was hoping. I was thinking maybe a good action movie, or perhaps a drama or even a thriller. Instead, she has signed on for yet another family film, following in the footsteps of Freaky Friday, Christmas with the Kranks and The Kid & I -- Disney's South of the Border.

Back in May, Patrick Walsh gave word that Piper Perabo would be the the human amidst dogs in the Southy feature. The plot: a pampered Chihuahua from Beverly Hills gets lost in Mexico and makes friends to help her get back to her home. In June, Christopher Campbell posted that Drew Barrymore would voice the pampered pooch -- with a posse that includes Salma Hayek, Cheech Marin, Paul Rodriguez, Plácido Domingo and Edward James Olmos. Now we've got good ol' Jamie Lee as the only other live-action character -- Aunt Viv, the owner of the Chihuahua. Since Perabo isn't the doggie owner, I assume she plays Curtis' niece, otherwise, "Aunt" Viv is rather pointless. Director Raja Gosnell doesn't have the best track record for loved films, but he did find a decent amount of success with his last Barrymore pic, Never Been Kissed, so maybe this will be his second gem. Either way, I just want the lovely Jamie Lee to do something better. I can't be the only one itching for her to do some quality work, can I?

Hollywood loves talking dogs. And I guess a lot of moviegoers love them too, because otherwise Hollywood wouldn't keep making them. Later this summer, we have a super-powered talking dog in Underdog and in two years, we'll be getting a super-sized talking dog movie called South of the Border. I say super-sized because the live-action Disney movie is going to have a lot of talking dogs in it. Drew Barrymore will be voicing the lead dog, a pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua named Chloe, who ends up lost in Mexico while on vacation with her owner (Piper Perabo). As you'd expect, the little dog meets a bunch of new friends to help her find her way.

Most of the other dogs will be voiced by Latino actors, including Salma Hayek, who plays a spirit guide who helps Chloe learn her Hispanic roots, and George Lopez, who plays another Chihuahua who attempts to woo Chloe. Other unspecified roles have been cast with Cheech Marin (who voiced the cartoon Chihuahua character in Disney's Oliver & Company), Paul Rodriguez, Plácido Domingo, Edward James Olmos and Eddie 'Piolin' Sotelo. Andy Garcia will also be voicing a dog, one which doesn't seem to be of the Latino variety. The Cuban actor is voicing an ex-K-9 German Shepherd. I assume that the character will have a German accent (as long as they're going so racial) and that he will end up the true love interest for Chloe -- though I don't think this is physically appropriate.

Just the other day, I was remarking to a friend: "When are they going to make a movie about a pampered Beverly Hills Chihuahua who gets lost in Mexico and must rely on friends to find her way back Stateside?" And in Variety today, there it was. Thank you, Mr. Hollywood - answerer of prayers, fulfiller of dreams! And with Raja Gosnell, director of Scooby-Doo and Big Momma's House at the helm, I've got a feeling this puppy can't lose! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Piper Perabo is going to the dogs! The article doesn't say who Perabo will play, but if I had to guess I bet she'll be the dog's Paris Hiltonesque owner? Whoever she plays, if this baby's half the movie Kangaroo Jack was, we should be in for some head-exploding, kick-you-in-the-crotch, lick-you-in-the-ear entertainment! Let me catch my breath here -- sarcasm overload. Okay.

Perabo last appeared on the big screen in the Diane Keaton vehicle Because I Said So (as in "Why do I have to watch this?"). She is currently starring in In Vivid Detail, which is playing the Tribeca Film Festival. And before the year is out she will appear in both Carriers and Ashes, which is the directorial debut of Ajay Naidu (Samir from Office Space). According to the announcement, South of the Border will be live-action, but it doesn't mention whether an actual chihuahua will be used or a CGI dog a la Scooby. It also doesn't mention whether the dog will be speaking or not, but I can't imagine the producers passing up a chance to have animals talking in wacky accents. Also not mentioned: how the chihuahua gets from Beverly Hills to Mexico, but I'd love to be the screenwriter who has to figure that out! There is no imdb information on the film regarding the writer of South of the Border, so I'll just assume it's David Mamet.