101 Dalmatians (1996 film)

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

101 Dalmatians is a 1996 American live-action comedy adventure film written and co-produced by John Hughes, based on Walt Disney's animated 1961 movie adaptation of Dodie Smith's 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians. It stars Glenn Close as Cruella and features a more modern setting. Unlike the 1961 film, none of the animals have speaking voices in this version.

Tropes used in 101 Dalmatians (1996 film) include:

Cruella: Alonzo, we're going to make them pay!
Alonzo: Yes. How much?

  • Cone of Shame: Lucky in one episode had to wear a cone after falling from a high tree branch and getting stitches. Cue humiliation from the other dogs.
  • Did I Just Say That Out Loud?: Jasper tries to emphasize to Horace not to comment on Mr. Skinner's huge scar on his throat. First words out of his mouth when Skinner opens the door?

Horace: Crikey! Look at the size of that scar! No bloody wonder you can't talk, mate!
Skinner: (Death Glare)
Jasper: Excuse me. (closes the door and decks Horace)

  • Evil Is Hammy: Cruella, of course.
  • Fake Brit: Glenn Close.
  • Fur Bikini: In the fashion show in the second movie.
  • Get On With It Already: Cruella is very impatient.
  • Getting Crap Past the Radar: A G-rated sex scene consisting of clothes symbolically bursting into flames.
    • In the first park scene with Roger and Pongo one of the dogs walking by is a bulldog with very large (and noticeable) testicles.
  • Gross-Out Show: A pig farts in Cruella's face, she falls into a vat of molasses and is kicked by a horse into a pigsty.
  • Harmless Freezing: Horace, though he's still blue and shivering in the next scene.
  • Humiliation Conga: The villains in both films end up getting this.
  • Knight of Cerebus: Mr. Skinner in the first film, the only villain in it to not be played as the slightest bit Laughably Evil.
  • Large Ham: Glenn Close as Cruella and Gérard Depardieu in the sequel.
  • Lost in Imitation: Naturally seems to be based more on the 1961 film than on the book.
  • Meaningful Name: Lucky is, well lucky, Rolly is fat, Wizzer has a weak bladder...
  • Misplaced Wildlife: Raccoons and a skunk in England.
  • My Name Is Not Durwood: Cruella never gets Roger's name right (This trope is repeated in the TV series.)
  • Parental Bonus: "Puppies? You have been a busy boy!"
    • And right before that when Anita tells Cruella that she's having a baby, "You know what they say, accidents may happen!"
  • Pimped-Out Dress: Some of Cruella's outfits and the fashion show in the second film.
  • Polly Wants a Microphone: One of the funniest things in 102 is Eric Idle as a parrot who thinks that he's a dog.
  • Punny Name: The puppy who constantly pees is named Wizzer.
  • Setting Update: Among other things, Roger is a video game designer.
  • Shipper on Deck: Waddlesworth in the sequel ships himself and Oddball.
  • Tastes Like Chicken: The parrot who thinks he's a dog when he was chewing at the woodwork when he saw the puppies below.
  • Those Two Guys: Domino and Little Dipper in 102 Dalmatians.
  • Those Two Bad Guys: Jasper and Horace. Their place is taken by Le Pelt and Alonzo in the sequel.
  • Wacky Marriage Proposal: "Would you like another cup of marriage? I mean tea?"
  • Worst News Judgment Ever: Why do National Newspapers like The Independent have reports on two relative nobodies getting married? Or make the kidnapping of fifteen puppies front page headline news? Though Anita did work as a fashion designer for Cruella's fashion house, nothing on screen implies she is particularly notable within in the company - Cruella only notices her when she designs the coat (her original idea being for FAKE fur).