Like catnip from the start, Oscar-winning director, Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, Les Misérables,) transforms Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-shattering stage musical into a fishy-feast on the big screen.
When the story opens, a tribe of cats surround an abandoned package moving and kicking at a dumpster. Expecting treats or at the very least fish bones, they let-the-cat-out-of-the-bag to discover Victoria (Francesca Hayward) a curious kitten, anxious to learn about her feline species.
Cats stars a lot of cool cats each given a Broadway-esque story-to-be-told in vignettes. The list of fine felines include James Corden (odd cat), Jason Derulo (cool cat singer), Idris Elba (bad cat), Jennifer Hudson (sad big-vocal cat), Ian McKellen (interesting cat), Taylor Swift (slinky cat), Rebel Wilson (more a dog then a cat) and introduces Royal Ballet principal dancer Francesca Hayward, as a graceful white cat, in her feature film debut. The Cats sing, dance, frolic and wonder whether they’ll ever get to heaven. Judi Dench is “Old Deteronomy” who can “judge a cat by its soul.” The plot becomes almost a talent show of sorts. The winner goes off to the hereafter. With nine lives, that’s not such a bad thing.
Featuring Lloyd Webber’s iconic music and a world-class cast of dancers under the guidance of Tony-winning choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, In the Heights), the film reimagines the musical for a new generation and dance styles ranging from classical ballet to hip-hop to jazz, street dance to tap.
The screenplay is by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot, Rocketman) and Hooper, based on Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot and the stage musical by Lloyd Webber. But don’t expect a plot. There isn’t one. Not really. While it worked for the book, there’s no stringing the cats together to form a cohesive story. Somehow it just turns out spectacular to look at, especially when Hayward is front and center; sleek, but delicate as a snowflake. Meow.
One of the longest-running shows in West End and Broadway history, the stage musical “Cats” received its world premiere at the New London Theatre in 1981, where it played for 21 years and earned the Olivier and Evening Standard Awards for Best Musical. In 1983, the Broadway production became the recipient of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for an extraordinary 18 years. Since opening in London in 1981, “Cats” has continuously appeared on stage around the globe, to date having played to 81 million people in more than fifty countries and in nineteen languages. It is one of the most successful musicals of all time, so it was quite a feat for Hooper (Les Miserable) to pounce.
The movie is not a CAT-astrophe but for what it is, it’s the most ambitious film of the year. Purr-fectly spectacular to watch, someone in London called it “magical awfulness.” I call it the cat’s pajamas, since a talented team of filmmakers just went over the deep edge of the litter box. But so what. Hiss, meow. You won’t be allergic. It’s purr-fectly entertaining. 3 tiaras