Review of Fritz the Cat (1972) by Walter C — 11 Mar 2006

Robert Crumb ([i]Crumb[/i]) is one of the most daring comic book artists of all time. Ralph Bakshi ([i]Lord of the Rings[/i], [i]Cool World[/i]) is one of the most experimental animation directors of all time. So what happens when you combine Crumb's story and characters with Bakshii's direction? The result is one bizzare animated film.

The movie takes place in the 1960's. Race is still an issue, college kids are smoking dope, cops are corrupt, riots are breaking out and hippies roam the land. We first see our title character in the park where he uses his writing and poetry skills to convince three chicks to get in bed with him. He brings them back to his friend's apartment where everyone in the living room is getting stoned. To avoid them, Fritz leads the girls into the bathroom for sex in the bathtub. It isn't long before his friends bust the bathroom door open and join in on his orgy. Around this time, the bumbling cops bust through the door. Fritz steals one of their guns and shoots the toilet, causing a mini-flood. Now Fritz is on the run from the bumbling cops in a chase that somehow leads to a jewish temple.

So what do these events have to do with the plot? Not much outside of establishing a few characters. It isn't until after all those events that Fritz sets his dorm on fire in a writer's rage. Now Fritz is not only trying to become a better writer, but is also on the lamb. His adventure takes him through the streets of Harlem (with black people portrayed as crows) where he incites a riot for the people of Harlem to rise up against the cops. Fritz later seeks refuge with Winston, one of his female friends. Winston, however, wants Fritz to settle down and Fritz decides that is not for him. So he hooks up with a resistance group who plan on making a 60's statement where Fritz finally begins to understand life.

So is it a good film? Let's put it this way. After the film, Bakshi's career in feature animation took off and Crumb quickly killed off Fritz in his comic. While the film does follow Crumb's original story and dialogue perfectly, there are some issues with continuity, timing, length and even the execution of dialogue. Certain scenes go on longer than they should. When Fritz gets stoned in Harlem and proceeds in making love to a large woman, it seems to go on forever. And just try to comprehend the unbelievable physics of a pool game in a bar scene which is just absurd (even for a cartoon). In terms of Crumb's original story, Fritz the Cat is a pretty explicit movie that is unsuitable for children and may be too much for some adults as well. Cartoon animals having sex is just creepy, no matter how you slice it.

From this perspective, [i]Fritz the Cat[/i] seems like nothing more than a dated novelty. The age of [i]Fritz[/i] definetely shows through the story, animation and even the dialogue (using phrases like "in a bag" or "bug out"). However, the irreverance of [i]Fritz[/i] is what made the film entertaining. If there is one element this animation does right, it would have to be the atmosphere. The bar scene in Harlem is such a well done scene (with the exception of the pool game). The dialogue feels natural, the actions feel natural while still being a little exaggerated and the music fits the mood. I like the fact that this was a film that took the time to animate natural dialogue that is inconsequential. Scenes such as Harlem crows debating racial politics or some workers on a lunch break discussing today's youth have nothing to do with the story, but are interesting to watch.

[i]Fritz the Cat[/i] is an animated feature that is dated, offensive, disgusting and rude. But is it entertaining? In a twisted psychotic sense, yes, [i]Fritz the Cat[/i] is a fun feature. It definitely isn't for everyone, but if you don't mind a cartoon in the vein of [i]Cheech and Chong[/i] meets [i]Garfield[/i] meets [i]Playboy[/i], [i]Fritz the Cat[/i] is worth a watch.