The economy is in freefall. Congress is a circus of dysfunction and demagoguery. The White House is under investigation for violating the Constitution. Things are heating up in Pakistan.

What we need now is a talking Chihuahua movie!

In a saner world, "Beverly Hills Chihuahua," Disney's flat-footed attempt to cash in on the Taco Bell talking-dog craze that peaked 10 years ago, would be easily dismissed as the pop-cultural detritus that it is. But -- things are just this crazy -- it's actually not that bad. Drew Barrymore voices the part of Chloe, the pampered title character who, while in the care of a feckless babysitter (Piper Perabo), is taken to Mexico and promptly gets lost. Like so many classics of which this isn't one, "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" is all about getting home and, in Chloe's case, getting in touch with her proud Mexican roots in the process.

Okay, the concept for the movie is admittedly lame, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with watching a passel of adorable pooches wrinkle their brows and bark while human voices come out of their mouths. The secret weapon here is Andy Garcia's growling former K-9 German shepherd, who befriends Chloe and serves as sort of a film-noirish Rin Tin Tin. He's a soulful, understated counterpoint to what could have been cuteness overload. As for Barrymore's plucky little pup, she's got verve, spunk, telegenic charm -- and she's been to Mexico. She'll make someone the perfect running mate.

-- Ann Hornaday (Oct. 3, 2008)

Contains mild thematic elements.