C.C. : Cats Don't Dance

Cats Don't Dance movie review
On
July 30, 2009


Cats Don't Dance (1997)

Directed by: Mark Dindal

Starring: Scott Bakula, Jasmine Guy, John Rhyes-Davies, Ashley Peldon, Kathy Najimy, George Kennedy, Rene Auberjonois, Betty Lou Gerson, Hal Holbrook, Matthew Herried, Don Knotts, Frank Welker





Well, let's face it. You can't please everybody. Particularily in the animation industry. Why is it that most animated films never get anybody's attention until years later?

Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Films like "Rock & Rule", "Osmosis Jones",
or as you people claim, "A Goofy Movie", never seem to be the success that studios hope them to be.

"Cats Don't Dance" just might be one of animation's greatest mysteries. When the film came out in 1997, it recieved critical acclaim, it was directed by the future director of the instant-classic "The Emperor's New Groove", AND it won Best Picture at the 1997 Annie Awards, an award cermony for animation.

So why did this $60 Million animated movie only get $3 Million at the box office? Simple, because it's an unexcusable piece of puke.





Naw, I'm just kidding. Gotcha, didn't I? To be honest, this film is good. REALLY good. It has great animation, an interesting story, this would be the Warner Bros equivalent of "A Goofy Movie", only it's not as good.

I remember renting this film on VHS as a kid and I loved it. I just watched the film recently on Youtube and I still liked it, but the supposed funny parts in the film kinda gave me a uneasy feeling. Don't you just hate it when you see a film you loved as a kid and it isn't as good as you remember it to be?

Anyone?....No? Ok, then.



The newset comedy from Mammoth Pictures!

WHAT'S THE FILM ABOUT?

A young and zippy Kokomo cat named Danny (Bakula) heads for Hollywood to pursue his dream to be in the movies. He soon finds out that animal actors in Hollywood don't recieve the repuation like human actors and are looking for work. Kinda sounds racist, I know.

With the help of a girl cat named Sawyer (Guy) and a assortment of other animals, they try to get re-recognized by a movie studio mogul and hopefully get the treatment they deserve. The film's villian is a crossover of Shirley Temple, Chucky from "Child's Play", and the evil kid from "The Good Son" named Darla Temple, who wants to stop our heroes in their tracks.


"It's MY turn to steer!"


Nothin's gonna stop us NOW!


WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT IT?

The animation is pure gold. It reminded me a bit of Eric Goldberg's animation of the Genie from "Aladdin", always zippy and wacky. Unfortunately, it also reminded me of the animation in "Cool World", being TOO zippy and wacky, but why carp?

With the exception of the villian, no one in the film was mean-spirited, which is the golden rule of films: never make the characters uninteresting. Who wouldn't listen to that rule?



"WHAT? What do you mean our film was a flop?"

The creators of "Epic Movie", that's who!

WHAT'S BAD ABOUT IT?

Like I mentioned before, I laughed so hard at the film when I was a kid, but now I was a tad disappointed with the humor. It was hit-and-miss. I didn't like how everyone acted like they were on caffeine. A few minutes into the film, and they're all jumpier than jumping beans.

Umm...tee-hee?


Don't fall for the cute chils-star look!

BOTTOM LINE:

This film wasn't as funny as I remember it to be, but I was entertained all the way through with it's wonderful characters, amazing animation, and catchy songs (particulary the first one).


But why did this film bomb? Well while it IS no Disney classic, it'll keep kids and adults intrigued for about an hour and a half. If you want your kids to appreciate the good ol' days you've gone through, pick this baby up on DVD today!


OVERALL SCORE:

4/5


Now if you excuse me, my never-ending quest for finding this film on DVD continues! Now, where's my fedora and whip?

See ya!
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