Ay-chi-hua-hua! “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” actually turned out to be decent? Yep, you read that correctly.

The G-rated Disney movie, mostly aimed towards a younger crowd, still manages to impress those of us who are way beyond our elementary school years.

Cashing in on America’s obsession with the pint-sized pooches, the movie follows a spoiled-rotten Chihuahua princess named Chloe (voiced by Drew Barrymore). With her own closet full of designer duds and a Harry Winston jewelry collection larger than most heiresses, Chloe is living the canine dream.

When her owner, Viv (Jamie Lee Curtis), goes away on business she is left in the hands of Viv’s niece, the equally spoiled Rachel (Piper Perabo).

When Rachel’s pet sitting goes wrong, Chloe finds herself lost in Mexico, to her dismay. Chloe befriends a German shepherd, Delgado (voiced by Andy Garcia), and encounters a series of adventures that bring her down from her privileged Rodeo Drive cloud. A dogfight, battling a crooked iguana and rat crime team and actually being fed Alpo for dinner are just some of the comical situations she finds herself in.

While Chloe is venturing through Mexico, her admirer is determined to find her. Papi (voiced by George Lopez), a Chihuahua gardener, encourages his owner to locate his love by reminding him that they are “Mexi-can, not Mexi-can’t.” Classic Lopez humor, poking fun at Latino stereotypes, is injected throughout the film, leaving the audience in stitches.

Although the premise of the flick seems to be cinematic cheese at its worst, it’s hard not to secretly root for Chloe’s return to L.A. and hope for the demise of a pack of shady dog-nappers and the evil Doberman, el Diablo.

Those above the age of 10 might keep it to themselves, but no doubt end up developing a fondness and rooting for lonely Delgado to find somewhere he belongs after being booted from the Mexican K-9 “policia” unit. It’s easy to get caught up in the plot and forget that the main characters of the flick are talking dogs.

By the end of the adorable flick, man’s best friend has given the audience a message that viewers of any age can appreciate. Italian leather accessories and other material things are outweighed by something even more important: true friendship and a belief in yourself.

While it might be more justifiable to bring a younger sibling along, be prepared to like the movie just as much – if not more – as the younger set in the audience. Don’t worry, you don’t have to tell anyone.

Casey Kirk can be reached at [email protected]