Disney's 2008 flick about talking dogs shouldn't have worked as well as it did. Honestly, looking back at the cast of Beverly Hills Chihuahua characters, you realize the movie was way more than just a fluff piece about a pampered pet getting lost in Mexico. It was a weirdly star-studded affair. You had Jamie Lee Curtis playing the eccentric Aunt Viv, and a voice cast that included George Lopez, Andy Garcia, and even Plácido Domingo.
Chloe is the center of it all.
She’s a white Chihuahua who thinks wearing booties and drinking "puppaccinos" is the natural order of the world. Voiced by Drew Barrymore, Chloe starts off pretty insufferable. She's the ultimate "diamond collar" archetype. But the movie does this thing where it strips all that away, literally, when she gets dognapped and has to figure out how to be a real dog in the streets of Mexico. It's a classic fish-out-of-water story, or maybe a "toy-breed-out-of-handbag" story.
Papi and the Heart of the Story
If Chloe is the brains (or at least the ego), Papi is the soul. George Lopez voiced Papi, a scruffy, street-wise but utterly devoted Chihuahua who works for the gardener, Sam. Papi is obsessed with Chloe. He calls her his "mi corazon."
People usually remember Papi for the jokes, but he’s actually the most capable character in the film. He doesn't care about the labels or the pedigree. While Chloe is panicking about her lack of a spa treatment, Papi is the one actually organizing a search party. He teams up with Sam (Manolo Cardona) to head south of the border. This dual-track narrative—the dogs on their own and the humans trying to catch up—is what kept the pacing from dragging.
Delgado: The Grumpy Mentor
You can't talk about Beverly Hills Chihuahua characters without mentioning Delgado. Andy Garcia brought a certain "grizzled noir detective" energy to this German Shepherd. Delgado is a former police dog who lost his sense of smell after a traumatic incident on the force.
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It’s a surprisingly dark backstory for a G-rated Disney movie.
Delgado is the one who finds Chloe in the dog-fighting ring and decides to protect her. Their dynamic is the best part of the script. You have this massive, cynical Shepherd and this tiny, high-maintenance Chihuahua bickering while crossing the desert. It’s basically The Defiant Ones but with fur. Delgado’s arc of regaining his confidence and his "nose" is arguably more compelling than Chloe’s realization that she likes being a regular dog.
The Villains and the Sidekicks
Every Disney movie needs a heavy. Enter Diablo.
Diablo is a Doberman voiced by Edward James Olmos. He works for El Diablo, the leader of a dog-fighting ring. He’s mean, he’s sleek, and he’s wearing a spiked collar that actually looks threatening. He spends most of the movie hunting Chloe and Delgado down.
Then there’s Montezuma (Montez), voiced by Cheech Marin. He’s a small dog with a big personality who helps the main group. And we can't forget the rats. Manuel and Chico. Voiced by Cheech Marin (again, in a different role) and Paul Rodriguez, these two provide the comic relief that leans heavily into the "heist" vibes. They’re trying to steal Chloe’s diamond collar. It’s a bit of a slapstick subplot, but it works to break up the tension of the desert trek.
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- Chloe: The spoiled protagonist who finds her "inner bark."
- Papi: The romantic hero with a "never-say-die" attitude.
- Delgado: The disgraced K9 officer looking for redemption.
- El Diablo: The Doberman enforcer.
- Aunt Viv: The human owner who probably spends too much on dog clothes.
Why the Characters Stuck Around
There is a reason this movie spawned two sequels, even if they went straight-to-DVD and lost most of the original A-list voice talent. The first film tapped into a specific mid-2000s cultural obsession with "purse dogs," but it subverted it by making the dogs the ones with the agency.
Chloe isn't just a trophy; she learns to fight.
The movie also did a decent job of showcasing Mexican landscapes and culture, even if it was through a very glossy Disney lens. Using actual Mexican actors like Eugenio Derbez (who played the shopkeeper) and Manolo Cardona gave the "human" side of the story some actual weight.
The Voice Acting Mastery
Look at the credits again. It’s wild.
You have Michael Urie as Sebastian, the pug. You have Loretta Devine as Delta. Even if you don't recognize the dogs, you recognize the voices. This is a hallmark of that era of live-action animal movies—getting the biggest names possible to talk as pets. It adds a layer of humor for the parents watching. When you hear George Lopez cracking jokes about being a "lean, mean, Mexican fighting machine," it lands because of the delivery, not just the writing.
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The chemistry between the Beverly Hills Chihuahua characters is what makes the movie watchable nearly two decades later.
What Really Matters in the End
The film ends with a massive pack of Chihuahuas standing up for themselves. It’s ridiculous. It’s over-the-top. But it’s also weirdly empowering for a movie about six-pound dogs. Chloe returns to Beverly Hills, but she’s different. She doesn't need the booties anymore. She appreciates Papi for who he is, not what he owns.
If you are looking to revisit the franchise or introduce it to a new generation, start with the 2008 original. The sequels—Beverly Hills Chihuahua 2 and Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3: Viva la Fiesta!—change up the voice cast significantly (Odette Annable takes over for Chloe, and Marcus Coloma takes over for Sam). While they’re cute for kids, they lack the "prestige" feel of the first one where you had Oscar-caliber actors talking to puppies.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're diving back into the world of Beverly Hills Chihuahua, here is how to get the most out of the franchise today:
- Watch for the Voice Cameos: On your next rewatch, try to spot the voices of various comedians in the minor dog roles; many uncredited or lesser-known actors from the LA comedy scene filled out the "dog park" scenes.
- Check Streaming Availability: As of 2026, the entire trilogy is usually bundled on Disney+, but the first film is frequently licensed out to other streamers like Hulu or Amazon Prime, so check your subscriptions before buying.
- Identify the Breeds: Beyond the Chihuahuas and German Shepherds, the film features a massive variety of breeds including Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Chinese Cresteds. It’s a great "intro to dog breeds" for kids.
- Skip the Remakes: Stick to the original trilogy. Various "talking dog" movies have tried to replicate the formula, but the specific charm of Papi and Chloe’s journey is hard to catch twice.
- Look for the "Making Of" Featurettes: If you can find the original DVD or the "Extras" section on streaming, the behind-the-scenes footage of the animal trainers is actually fascinating. They used over 200 dogs for the final scenes, and seeing how they coordinated that many animals without CGI is a lost art.