Cats is a 2019 British-American musical fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Tom Hooper, who wrote the script with Lee Hall. Based on the 2 materials including Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical of the same name and T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the film stars an ensemble casts consisting of Taylor Swift, Jason Derulo, Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Jennifer Hudson, Ray Winstone, Robbie Fairchild, James Corden, Rebel Wilson, Idris Elba, Laurie Davidson, Steven McRae, and Francesca Hayward in her film debut. In this film, a tribe of cats must decide yearly which one will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.
The film was released in the United States on December 20, 2019 by Universal Pictures. It received overwhelming lambasted from critics, a box-office bomb and a considered one of the worst films ever made. The film being grossed $75,558,925 on a $80-100 million budget and lossed over $71 million for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment after ancillary costs. The film critics and social media users criticized its screenplay, cgi, performances and source materials, although musical scores and numbers received praise. It was also criticized for false advertisement on the film in consisting to get an Academy Awards 2020, and received accolades including the Razzie Awards for the 9 nominations, winning 6 including the Worst Picture Award.
Plot[]
Victoria, a young white cat, is abandoned by her owner in the streets of London in the middle of the night. The alley cats, witnessing this, introduce themselves to her as the "Jellicles." Mr. Mistoffelees, Munkustrap, Cassandra, and Demeter, take Victoria under their wing and show her the world of the Jellicles as they prepare for the Jellicle Ball, an annual ceremony where cats must compete to be chosen to go to the Heaviside Layer and be granted a new life.
Most of the Jellicle Ball competitors are introduced and sing about themselves: Jennyanydots, a domestic tabby who sleeps during the day and by night boosts the productivity of mice and roaches; the Rum Tum Tugger, an extravagant yet indecisive cat who riles up the others; Bustopher Jones, a bourgeois cat who boasts about his weight and shares food scraps from the garbage; Skimbleshanks, a tidy ginger cat who tap dances and supervises the operation of a train, and Gus, an aged theatrical cat who has played some of the biggest roles in history.
Victoria also happens to meet the mischievous twins, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, who enjoy causing trouble and messing with things in the house of their human family. They convince Victoria to join in the fun, but leave her tangled up in some necklaces when the family dog is alerted to their presence. Luckily, Mr. Mistoffelees comes to rescue Victoria, distracting the dog and escaping with her. They return to the group just in time for the arrival of the tribe's wise and beloved matriarch, Old Deuteronomy. The Jellicle Ball commences inside the abandoned Egyptian Theatre. Victoria dances a ballet solo in the moonlight but is distracted by Cassandra harassing Grizabella, a former glamour cat who was banished from the tribe for, among other things, her past allegiance with Macavity, a notorious criminal capable of teleportation. Victoria relates to Grizabella's feelings of abandonment. As Grizabella slinks away into the streets, Old Deuteronomy witnesses their quiet camaraderie and assures Victoria that she can become a Jellicle herself in time.
A seductive femme fatale named Bombalurina interrupts the ball, distracting the Jellicles present with a song and dance number praising Macavity and simultaneously incapacitating them with catnip. When Macavity arrives and demands to be made the Jellicle Choice, Old Deuteronomy deems him unworthy and is subsequently kidnapped and placed with most of the other contestants that he has kidnapped. As the Jellicles recuperate, distraught over their leader's disappearance, Victoria suggests that Mr. Mistoffelees use his powers to conjure Old Deuteronomy back. He tries several times, eventually making Old Deuteronomy reappear. The cats rejoice and praise Mr. Mistoffelees, and he and Victoria dance together. Meanwhile, a thwarted Macavity and Bombalurina teleport away from his victims, who begin to free themselves via Jennyanydots' costume change. Macavity leaves his lackey, Growltiger, to walk the plank defenseless against the emancipated cats.
Grizabella returns to the Egyptian Theatre. Victoria vouches for her and urges her to sing her true feelings. Grizabella sings a passionate ballad about her mistakes, her former glory, and her beauty, sentiments that touch the hearts of the Jellicles. Old Deuteronomy names Grizabella the Jellicle Choice and sends her off to the Heaviside Layer in a chandelier (repaired by Mr. Mistoffelees' magic to float like a hot air balloon). Macavity, in one last attempt to reach the Heaviside Layer, leaps onto a rope from the chandelier, but falls onto Nelson's Column. The Jellicles, reunited with their kidnapped brethren, and perched on a lion statue, watch Grizabella ascend as the morning sun appears above the horizon. After the congregation disperses, Old Deuteronomy welcomes Victoria to the tribe.
Cast[]
- James Corden as Bustopher Jones
- Judi Dench as Old Deuteronomy
- Jason Derulo as Rum Tum Tugger
- Idris Elba as Macavity
- Jennifer Hudson as Grizabella
- Ian McKellen as Gus
- Taylor Swift as Bombalurina
- Rebel Wilson as Jennyanydots
- Francesca Hayward as Victoria the White Cat
- Laurie Davidson as Mr. Mistoffelees
- Robbie Fairchild as Munkustrap
- Mette Towley as Cassandra
- Steven McRae as Skimbleshanks
- Danny Collins as Mungojerrie
- Naoimh Morgan as Rumpleteazer
- Ray Winstone as Growltiger
- Les Twins as Plato and Socrates
- Jaih Betote as Coricopat
- Jonadette Carpio as Jemima
- Daniela Norman as Demeter
- Bluey Robinson as Alonzo
- Freya Rowley as Jellylorum
- Ida Saki as Electra
- Zizi Strallen as Tantomile
- Eric Underwood as Admetus
- Cory English as Maître D'
Critical Reception[]
Cats was widely panned by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a score of 20% based on 294 reviews with an average score of 3.73/10.
Videos[]
Trailers[]
CATS - Official Trailer HD
Official Trailer