Review of Cats (2019) by Catdancer — 21 Dec 2019

What an experience! Cats overflows with creativity and ardor and spirit and energy that comes from the cast onscreen and the people behind the scenes. The sets are mysteriously beautiful. But I think I was most impressed with the dancing choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler and the dancers especially Francesca Hayward and Les Twins.

But IMO all the Jellicle dancers put on an amazing show, so much so that there were moments in the film when I kind of wished director Tom Hooper had followed some of the full-cast dances a bit slower.

But then again there is something to be said for Hooper's infectuous whirling effect. The singers are as good as the classic songs. Taylor Swift is a flirtatious Bombalurina who sings the nasty Macavity's (good job, Idris Elba) theme song as well as parts of "Beautiful Ghosts" & the full version over the end credits.

. Jennifer Hudson's tortured, emotional version of "Memory" works wonderfully most of the time, especially at the end. This "Cats" casts Victoria in the starring role of an innocent homeless kitten rescued by some of the Jellicle tribe.

I don't want to be a spoiler so I'll just say Victoria has some adventures as she gets to know individual Jellicles, some more than others. She follows one of Grizbella's "Memory" preludes with a sweet and touching version of "Beautiful Ghosts".

If I try to comment on everyone and everything that makes Cats Cats this would be a very very long review! So just a few more. The comic relief provided by various cast members was uneven, some good, some "meh" but these short scenes do make Cats more entertaining and give audience members a chance to catch their collective breath.

The most marvelous "performances by an actor" were Judi Dench as Old Deuteronomy and Ian McKellen as Gus the Theatre Cat. There is something so warm and inviting about Dame Judi's facial expressions; she was covered with just the right amount of digital fur so that the audience could be moved by them.

Sir McKellen is a treasure.He plays an old, seen-it-all actor reminicing about his long theatrical career with a sense of pride and joy in his craft that is genuinely moving. Thank you, Andrew Lloyd Webber and everyone who brought this feline magical mystery tour to the P.

S. A quick comment on the "trailers" ~ having seen the complete movie, I feel sorry for those whose jobs were to create 3-minute trailers to communicate the merits of this movie. The film contains so much more than can be squeezed into a trailer.