The kids watched 101 Dalmatians last night. I didn’t watch, but I was in the next room listening, and I’ve seen it a few times before. This is not the 1961 animated one Hundred and One Dalmatians, but the 1996 live-action remake with Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil. I don’t usually care much for remakes, but this one is good. Glenn Close is a hilariously evil Cruella De Vil, and Jeff Daniels and Joely Richardson are perfectly charming as Roger and Anita. Pongo and Perdita are played by dogs, who carry off their parts quite convincingly.

It is unfortunate that the scriptwriters chose to transform Roger, originally a song writer, into a video game designer, but it did create some very funny dialogue. For example:

Cruella: And what is it that you do that allows you to support Anita in such… splendor?
Roger: I design video games.
Cruella, to Anita: Video games? Is he having me on?
Anita: O no, he’s very good at it. And it’s a growing business.
Cruella: Those horrible noisy things that children play on their televisions? Someone actually designs those? What a senseless thing to do with your life!

Well, this is turning into a mini movie review, which is not what I intended and is rather lame since the movie is now eleven years old. All I really wanted to do is repeat for your edification what I think is one of the funniest bits of movie dialogue I’ve ever heard.

The setting is fashion designer Cruella De Vil’s office. Present is Frederick, who appears to be an upper-management type. He, like all of Cruella’s employees, is horribly intimidated by her. Cruella is looking over some of Anita’s designs, which have spots.

Cruella: Do you like spots, Frederick?
Frederick: O, I don’t believe so, Madame. I thought we liked stripes this year.
Cruella: What kind of sycophant are you?
Frederick: What kind of sycophant would you like me to be?