Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva La Fiesta!

The third film in this now direct-to-video live-action franchise is the runt of the litter, albeit more kid-friendly. Bland humans Rachel (Erin Cahill) and Sam (Marcus Coloma) relocate from Sam's aunt's palatial Beverly Hills digs into a luxury hotel where he will work as a landscaper and she as a sous chef. But this movie, like the others, quickly goes to the dogs—specifically Papi (voiced by George Lopez) and Chloe (Odette Annable), along with their five adorable pups, who make themselves at home. The bad guy this time around is a rival hotelier bent on sabotage, while the requisite heartwarming subplot concerns youngest and least confident pup Rosa (Kay Panabaker), who prepares for her traditional quinceanera birthday party (at least the film has a welcome cultural component). Filmmaker Lev L. Spiro's movie aims low (kids love dogs and especially doggie wisecracks and slapstick) and succeeds on that simplest of levels. Beyond some tame jokes about “pee-mail,” bodily function humor is kept to a blessed minimum, and for adults who stick around, there are mildly amusing pop culture references (auditioning party bands have names like Black Labbath, Bob Marley and Me, and Lady Gaga and the Tramp). Optional, at best. (D. Liebenson)