Cats & Dogs (2001)

In comparison to the staggering logistics, casting for "Cats & Dogs" was almost too easy. Jeff Goldblum was on the short list of possibilities for the role of Professor Brody from the very beginning and was the first human role to be cast. Elizabeth Perkins, too, was among the first choices for the role of Mrs. Brody, who brings Lou into the household.

"There was a lot of interest in the human roles," says Lazar. "We all loved Jeff's charisma and his downright wacky take on paternal instincts. We were then fortunate to sign Elizabeth Perkins. Together they have a charming chemistry."

Both Goldblum and Perkins were impressed with the way that Guterman and deFaria were committed to bringing "Cats & Dogs" to life. And both, ignoring the oft-quoted adage about never working with animals or kids, insisted that their young and furry co-stars were a delight.

Alexander Pollock was chosen after interviews with dozens of children for the role of Scott Brody. Both Guterman and deFaria loved the 11-year-old Vancouver actor from the start. When they played Pollock's audition tape for the assembled decision-makers, response was unanimous. "Everyone," recalls Guterman, "producers, executives and writers, were suddenly laughing hysterically at his performance. He is so natural and funny and almost Charlie Brown-like in a way. We all looked at each other and realized this is the kid."

Pollock describes both his adult co-stars as "really cool," citing that Perkins was especially good company on the set and great to talk to, and that Goldblum was "very funny, always dancing and singing, really fun to work with."

"For the voices," says Guterman, "we also had some names in mind from the outset. Susan Sarandon was our first choice for Ivy. We were truly lucky in that we got so many of the voice actors we wanted from the start."

Lazar concurs, adding "I went to meet Susan in New York and was prepared to beg if I had to. After I pitched the project she knew it was something her kids would enjoy so she signed on immediately."

"Casting voices is a funny process," explains deFaria. "You spend a lot of time saying, 'Butch should sort of sound like Alec Baldwin in 'Glengarry Glen Ross' and you start making a list of people who sound like Alec Baldwin. Eventually, you realize you should just approach Alec Baldwin."

Some of the voices were pure inspiration. "Our casting director, Marci Liroff. is great at coming up with fresh ideas," says deFaria. "When she suggested Michael Clarke Duncan for Sam, everyone just sort of paused — after 'The Green Mile,' can he possibly play a sheepdog? It's a really big leap, but he just blew everyone away."

Finding an appropriate voice for Mr. Tinkles was the most difficult of all. "If he's too mean and scary and baritone, you lose some of the humor," says Guterman, "but if he's too flighty and high-pitched and flamboyant, then you miss the menace. We had to find someone who could balance the two, make it funny but make it edgy too."

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