Like Cats & Dogs
6.1/10 · 1,660 ratings20171h 24mWeirdness 4/10
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Canada7 ways
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The premise
A reservation goes awry when two renters one with a dog and one with a cat must share a house.
How unusual is it?
Middle of the road, with a twist — an enemies-to-lovers arc keeps it from being totally by-the-book.
Who’s in it
Alongside them
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Behind the camera
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Directed by
Written by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- The landlady admits to committing rental fraud/double-booking as a matchmaking tactic.
- Spencer's 'Treaty' includes a specific rule limiting bathroom usage to 20 minutes and exactly two towels.
- Spencer drinks a 'bark extract smoothie' for health.
- The protagonist's thesis is literally titled 'The Chemistry of Love' and he tries to prove love doesn't exist.
Every trope, all in one place
Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 25 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Setting2
Time & season2
Premise2
Romance6
Tone & quirks2
How it all plays out
Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.
Full story (spoilers)
The film begins with Laura Haley, an accountant working for her parents, arriving in South Haven for a two-week vacation with her dog, Frank. Simultaneously, Spencer Hodkins, a PhD student focused on psychobiology, arrives with his cat, Mozart. After a brief, tense encounter at the train station where Frank chases Mozart, both discover they have rented the same house. The owner, Ellen Davis, claims a computer glitch is responsible and, since no other pet-friendly housing is available, suggests they share the space. Spencer, who is under pressure to finish a dissertation for a grant provided by his girlfriend Susan's father, is initially hostile to the arrangement. He creates a 'Treaty for living under the same roof,' which includes strict decibel limits for music and a rotation schedule for the pets. Laura, meanwhile, reconnects with her college friend Rose and begins to explore her passion for photography under Ellen's mentorship at a local gallery. Despite their friction, the two begin to bond over s'mores and late-night conversations. Spencer's clinical belief that love is just a series of chemical reactions begins to waver as he spends time with Laura. However, tensions peak when Laura hosts a baby shower for Rose at the house; the chaos results in Mozart destroying Spencer's research notes and Spencer's dog ruining Laura's favorite vintage record. Laura briefly leaves but returns, and Spencer buys her a new record player to apologize. The romance is derailed when Spencer's girlfriend, Susan, arrives unannounced and discovers the cohabitation. Feeling like a secret, Laura leaves for good. Back at school, Spencer fails his thesis defense because he can no longer argue that love is purely biological. He breaks up with Susan and returns to South Haven. In a final twist, Ellen reveals she intentionally double-booked the pair because their personality questionnaires were a perfect match. Laura decides to stay in South Haven to work at the gallery, and she and Spencer reunite at the rental house to start a real relationship.
Beat by beat
Opening
Laura and Spencer meet at the train station when their pets (a dog and a cat) clash, unaware they are headed to the same rental.
Inciting Incident
The landlady, Ellen, reveals the house is double-booked, forcing the 'cat person' and 'dog person' to live together.
Midpoint
Spencer and Laura move from hostility to friendship, sharing s'mores and discussing Spencer's 'Chemistry of Love' thesis.
Climax
Spencer's girlfriend Susan arrives unexpectedly, discovering the living arrangement and causing Laura to flee in heartbreak.
Falling Action
Spencer fails his thesis defense because he has actually fallen in love, realizing his scientific theories were wrong.
Resolution
Ellen admits she is a matchmaker who intentionally double-booked them; Spencer and Laura reunite at the house.
25 tropes in one movie
We counted 25 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.
How it stacks up
Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.
Higher-rated than 25% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog Like Cats & Dogs belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.
Lines worth quoting
The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.
“My theory is that any strong emotion, like love or heartbreak, is nothing more than a series of chemical reactions in the brain.”
— SpencerExplaining his clinical dissertation to Laura. “You double-book the house to bring people together... You're match-making.”
— LauraConfronting Ellen about the 'glitch'. “I'm making a kale, beet, celery, vinegar, bark extract smoothie, do you want some?”
— SpencerOffering Laura his bizarre health drink.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Laura Haley
LeadAccountant and aspiring photographer
SpontaneousCreativeDog-loverConflict-averseSpencer Hodkins
Love interestPsychology PhD Student
Roommate and eventual boyfriend
RigidAnalyticalCat-loverHealth-consciousSusan
AntagonistUnknown (Wealthy socialite/student)
Spencer's initial girlfriend
ControllingDemandingRigidEllen Davis
SupportingLandlady and Gallery Owner
Landlady and mentor
ManipulativeKindArtisticMatchmaker
Questions people ask about Like Cats & Dogs
Where can I watch Like Cats & Dogs?
Like Cats & Dogs is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is Like Cats & Dogs?
Like Cats & Dogs runs about 1 hour and 24 minutes, and was released in 2017.
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