Cats (2019)

In one of my favourite movies ever, Six Degrees of Separation, the characters (one of whom is played by Ian McKellen) discuss why there should or shouldn't be a movie version of the musical Cats. Cats is a thing unlike anything other. Either you embrace it or you don't. Either you are okay with humanoid cat people dancing and singing without much plot beyond who gets into kitty heaven or you aren't. Either you get into it or you don't. I find most discussion about the movie nonsensical. Cats is Cats. Critiquing it for being absurd is admitting you just don't get it. It's fine if it's not for you. That's not the same thing as saying it's bad.

If there was to be a movie of Cats, this is what it should be. It recreates in the only cinematic way possible the spectacle of seeing humanoid cat dancers. It creates magical, and truly quite beautiful, litter filled London back streets for its stray cast. We move through each cat introducing itself in each lovely preposterous manner. The songs with their awkward but gorgeous TS Elliott lyrics comes to life and we get swept up in it. It is exactly what Cats is.

And much of it is brilliant. Ian McKellen's moments as Gus is an incredible walk on cameo, Jason Derulo sexes up the screen as the frisky Rum Tum Tugger, Idris Elba is surprisingly terrifying as Macavity, and Judi Dench brings a stately gravitas to Old Deuteronomy. Rebel Wilson and James Cordon are fun if their parts err a little too much on the silly side but as I type that I realize saying anything in this film is "silly" is also absurd. For me the only misstep is Jennifer Hudson as Grizabella, her one note acting paired with her million note singing throws the character even too far over the top for even this film. So much of the success of this "story" is based on our emotions for her character and all she can do is mope. A stronger actress here would have been warrented.

I don't recommend Cats unless you want to see Cats. It is truly on of the most polarizing pieces of pop theatre and most people don't get it, won't get it, and will miss out. For that special few who understand the glorious madness that is Cats, enjoy!

Cats
Starring: Judi Dench, Jennifer Hudson, Francesca Howard, Idris Elba, Robbie Fairchild, Laurie Davidson, James Cordon, Rebel Wilson, Jason Derulo, Taylor Swift, Les Twins, Ian McKellen
Director: Tom Hooper
Writers: Lee Hall, Tom Hooper