France | Canada 2024
Opening October 30, 2025

Directed by: Reem Kherici
Directing credits: Reem Kherici, Tristan Schulmann
Principal actors: Franck Dubosc, Reem Kherici, Philippe Lacheau

 Jack (Franck Dubosc) steals a ruby. Policeman Brandt (Philippe Lacheau) is determined to arrest Jack and recover the stolen ruby, which, however, has been swallowed by Jack’s dog Chichi. Monica (Reem Kherici) has a cat named Diva and soon Chichi and Diva, as well as Jack and Monica, move quickly. Chichi saves Diva from drowning in a frozen lake. The two animals show up in a girls’ school, run by nuns; they ride together in the school bus. Jack wears sunglasses, which he has stolen, and carries a cane, pretending to be blind and dependent on Monica. Eventually, Jack and Monica are sitting in airline business-class seats on their way to New York.  Diva and Chichi are also on their way to NYC. Eventually all are reunited.

Here Diva (spoken by Inès Reg) and Chichi (spoken by Artus) are animated but appear real and speak with each other as if they were human beings. Chichi wears a diaper, perhaps to “save” the ruby in case he should poop it out. In NYC a sheriff takes on the attempted arrest of Jack. Jack and Monica (also named Monique) spend time in jail. In this French film the original title is Chien & Chat (and Cat & Dog in English). Although the title indicates that the dog and cat are the stars, Jack, Monica, and Brandt are always present, trying to solve their problems. My colleague Jan recognized a scene with a carousel which seemed to copy another carousel in the 1951 film Strangers on a Train by Alfred Hitchcock. Recommended as a “family” film for viewers over six years old, the action never stops. My colleague, Minu, age ten, enjoyed viewing all 86 minutes—the perfect length. (Becky T.)