Review:  ‘Rescue Dogs’ is so annoying, not even cute canines can save the day

There just aren’t enough rescue dogs in the world to save “Rescue Dogs,” a shrill, yappy live-action comedy that proves considerably more annoying than adorable despite an accompanying charitable marketing campaign designed to draw attention to animal welfare causes.

Featuring a cast of actual rescue animals, the film concerns the efforts of the proprietor of a Southern California beachfront diner (Paul Haapaniemi) to prevent an evil developer from razing the property and putting up a golf course.

While the human components are aimlessly scurrying around, the various members of the animal cast, led, appropriately, by a dog named Charger, offer running commentary even though their mouths are never actually moving.

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It’s hard to say if the decision to give them voices was actually made after the filming was completed, or if the skimpy budget didn’t allow for digital manipulation.

What’s even harder to pinpoint is the intended audience: Even though it’s clearly aimed at families, there isn’t a single kid character to be found in costar Jordan Rawlins’ dog-eared script, although the tone established by directors Michael Anderson and Haik Katsikian would qualify as juvenile.

Without taking anything away from those deserving rescue animals, it would have been nice had similar consideration been given to viewer welfare.

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“Rescue Dogs”

MPAA rating: PG, for some rude humor.

Running time: 1 hour, 23 minutes.

Playing: In limited release.