Beverly Hills (and Other) Chihuahuas

The Chihuahua's star has risen so high that even Disney wants a piece of the pooch. The studio offered NEWSWEEK exclusive first-look photos from 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua,' due out in September, a film starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Drew Barrymore and banking on the recent boom in tiny yapping pooches sticking out of trendy pocketbooks from New York to Los Angeles to Tokyo. The Chihuahua ranks 12th on the American Kennel Club's annual list of the most popular dogs in the country, boosted by a decade's worth of celebrity tie-ins. First there was the Taco Bell craze, then pink-clad Bruiser was a hit in 'Legally Blonde,' which turned Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Paula Abdul on to the idea, which has now become a muse to the Disney people. It's hard work being that popular. Better book some extra time at the doggie day spa. Photos: Junji Kurokawa / AP (top left); Daniel Daza / Disney Enterprises Inc. (right); Toru Yamanaka / AFP-Getty Images

 
 
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Member Comments

  • Posted By: BenjiTheKid @ 08/04/2008 3:30:13 AM

    I hate to say it but- you can't blame the movie companies for the mass buying of dog breeds. You can only blame the human race. Because people are stupid and they see a dog on TV and because it was great on TV they go out and buy one of their own not reading about it or getting prepared for him or anything. Notice how I said PEOPLE do this. Not movies. Rather Disney releases this movie or not, people will buy chihuahuas in the masses. And, dump them in the masses. They've been a popular breed for quite some time. They were before the Taco Bell dog, too. And, no matter what anyone thinks, movie companies should not have to stop making dog movies just because some people are idiotic. They should, however, put a disclaimer and provide information about the breed. Which, might I point out, Disney has teamed up with the AKC and began doing that.

    Wanna really care? Attack Disney's snow dogs. Multiple golden retriever and husky pups died during the making of that movie.

    Also, the movies already been made. It comes out in October.

  • Posted By: Laine @ 08/02/2008 7:19:14 AM

    I have had Chihuahua mixes (all adopted from shelters/Humane Society or, as a child...two that were strays) and I am so firmly against 'buying' any special type of dog that would encourage breeders to crank them out for profit. What will come of the movie? I hope the film makers will include making it a disgrace to own any type of pet that is purchased from a breeder. There are too many dogs in need of a home already. and the money that would have been spent on a breeder purchase could be spent on people in the world that do not have a cardboard box to live in (think of helping those who cannot help themselves).

  • Posted By: Chihuahualover @ 07/30/2008 5:12:44 PM

    I agree with the below poster's this is just going to ruin the chihuahua breed.

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