A beautifully depicted dog world is the perfect recipe for a smash hit. A superbly described talking-dog world can take success-related issues even further. Disney knew exactly what this movie season lacked, a film about purse puppies, and here it is! The charm, the bark-like voice and the arrogance of an undersized overprotected dog represent the focal points of “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.”

The new production directed by the helmer of the lovable “Scooby-Doo,” Raja Gosnell, portrays an old-fashioned subject in an ultra-modern way. Or at least the canine heroine is up-to-the-minute. She (we can’t possibly refer to her as “it,” as she is the most fashionable and pampered pooch out there) goes by the pretentious name of Chloe and is the little treasure of ultra-rich cosmetics entrepreneur Viv, played by the one and only Jamie Lee Curtis. Thus, Chloe, a Chihuahua born with a silver spoon in her mouth, cannot possibly go out there wearing nothing but fur. She would be taken for an ordinary dog, and she is at least a little princess if not a natural born queen. In order to avoid getting her delicate paws dirty, Chloe wears designer booties, and, in addition to this, a beautiful diamond collar. Viv sometimes adorns the love of her prosperous life by making her wear sunglasses and various jewels. And Chloe does not seem to dislike this dog life of hers.

Lady Chloe, voiced by Drew Barrymore, nevertheless gets into tramp-like trouble, as Viv goes out of town for a business trip and, hence leaves her breathing treasure in the hands of her niece, Rachel (Piper Perabo), who is evidently the human homologue of Chloe. Thus, Rachel can’t just postpone her important meals with the gals and beauty parlor appointments. The only solution she can find using her blonde-haired head is to take the pooch with her. So, they leave for Mexico together. The two representatives of the snobbish canine and human worlds just can’t get along and Chloe, who thinks Rachel is reckless and negligent, finds herself wandering all alone in that scary and unknown place.

The poor little thing is abducted by some evil dog fighters and, with the help of an “ordinary” dog, Delgado, a German Shepherd (voiced by an incredible Andy Garcia), who becomes her protector over night, Chloe tries to find her way home.

In the meantime, Rachel is desperate to trace the lost dog, as her aunt would probably kill her if she found out, and seeks for some landscaper help, offered by Sam (Manolo Cardona) and Papi (voiced by George Lopez), a doggie with his four feet on the ground, who is head over heels in love with the bigheaded Chloe.

The entire film makes Chihuahuas proud of being representatives of the often underrated breed. It is tongue-in-cheek funny, while the appealing voices and charming plot offer an easy, side-splitting mix. What’s best about “Beverly Hills Chihuahua is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously, as no movie about talking doggies can be other way than hilarious.