Overhyped films can often lead to disappointment. This was the case for me with Parasite and Jojo Rabbit, both of which received widespread critical acclaim. Conversely, films initially met with harsh criticism can sometimes prove surprisingly entertaining, as demonstrated by the Emoji Movie. Unfortunately, Cats defies even that expectation. Enduring this cinematic misfire felt like a truly arduous experience.
The feline character Victoria (Francesca Hayward) is abandoned by her owners and finds herself navigating life on the streets. Adjusting to homelessness proves challenging as she encounters a diverse cast of characters, including the magical Mr. Mistoffelees (Laurie Davidson), the wise Old Deuteronomy (Dame Judi Dench), and the devious Macavity (Idris Elba).
If the plot description seems somewhat sparse, it’s because elaborating further would essentially reveal the entirety of the film’s narrative, which I typically avoid. However, Cats presents itself as a noteworthy example of technical incompetence. The cast delivers commendable performances given the circumstances, and the dance and song numbers exhibit a degree of stylistic merit. However, the musical score itself proved largely unappealing, with only The Railway Cat standing out as a potentially redeeming piece.
To understand the critical failures of this production, one must consider the direction and script. Director Tom Hooper‘s prior work includes acclaimed films such as the musical adaptation of Les Misérables and the Oscar-winning The King’s Speech. Therefore, his struggles with Cats are particularly perplexing, especially given his professed affinity for the Broadway show. Unlike typical musicals with dialogue and action interspersed between songs, Cats presents a string of musical numbers loosely connected by Victoria’s encounters with various cats. These felines sing, dance, and impart life lessons before she moves on to the next. The overarching plot revolves around becoming a Jellicle cat, granting access to a feline afterlife. Old Deuteronomy (Judi Dench) selects the recipient, yet the cats primarily perform for Victoria rather than the decision-maker.
Furthermore, certain cats possess teleportation abilities, a concept that demands significant suspension of disbelief. Delving into every illogical or questionable aspect of this film would result in an excessively lengthy review, so let’s proceed to the discussion of the visual effects.
In my review of the Sonic The Hedgehog film, I highlighted the fan outcry regarding Sonic‘s initial design. Paramount responded by delaying the release and reworking the effects, ultimately contributing to the film’s success. A similar wave of criticism greeted the initial trailers for Cats, with viewers decrying the unfinished and visually unappealing effects. However, Universal chose not to heed these concerns. Instead of delaying the release to refine the visuals, they released the film with demonstrably flawed effects.
Having worked in visual effects for film since 2013, I understand the time and effort required to achieve high-quality results. In Cats, it is evident that compromises were made to meet an unsustainable deadline. The retention of human features such as noses, faces, and hands (including Judi Dench’s wedding ring) is distracting, as are the stiff and unnatural movements of necklaces and other accessories. The backgrounds appear sterile and lifeless. Moreover, even flawless effects could not overcome the inconsistent scale of the cats. Their size fluctuates inconsistently, and the introduction of human-featured mice and cockroaches at the wrong scale creates a disturbing and unsettling experience, especially when the cats consume them. The cockroach sequence stands out as particularly egregious in its unfinished state. It’s worth noting that this is the “fixed” version of the film, released by Universal two weeks after the premiere, raising questions about the quality of the original release.
Positive aspects include the Blu-ray edition’s Dolby Atmos audio, which provides excellent sound quality with balanced pressure and a well-defined soundstage. The bonus material is informative and engaging. However, Universal’s lack of self-awareness is perplexing. The behind-the-scenes features showcase the “revolutionary” special effects, seemingly oblivious to the widespread criticism. While there is no 4K edition of Cats available, the picture quality of this edition is acceptable, with sharp details, vibrant colors, and good black levels.
In conclusion, Cats offers a truly unique cinematic experience, and I have likely omitted numerous other problematic aspects. The rating avoids the absolute bottom tier due to the film’s unintentional entertainment value derived from its numerous flaws.
