• The Hollywood Reporter on LinkedIn   • Follow THR on Pinterest
Families get fickle over CGI animal pics  'Cats and Dogs' latest
to disappoint; 'Yogi Bear' up next  Fox was weeks away from
releasing June's "Marmaduke" when a dubious reporter asked a
studio executive about prospects for the family comedy.  "I have
learned never to bet against any dog movie," the exec mused.
The optimism was understandable considering Fox's $143 million
domestic success with 2008's "Marley and Me." But unlike that
holiday dramedy, summer's dancing-dog comedy was a live action
and CGI hybrid of the "Alvin and the Chipmunks" species.    But
as with some other recent furry-creatures missteps -- including
the past weekend's "Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore"
-- industryites suggest the pic's creative problems were
specific to "Marmaduke" and not the genre.    The 3D sequel
followed Warners' $93 million domestic success with 2001's 2D
"Cats and Dogs."  "Was there truly the need for a second movie?"
a top exec at a rival