Don't ask me why I like this unassuming little animated movie better than some Disney movies. Maybe I just occasionally like watching something that's different from the usual Disney fare, but I've been watching animated movies for a long time, and I know when an animated movie is well written and fun. Cats Don't Dance is very well written, and it is exceedingly fun with a capital F.
Many critics horribly panned this movie, and it did not get the money, or the advertisement, it deserved. I didn't expect it to be a runaway hit, but I was hoping such a fine family feature would get a decent amount of money. Sadly, this was not the case. Why? Because it's not Disney? Because it's a WB film? Except for The Iron Giant, many WB movies tend to be bad. This is not one of them. It's only advertisement came at the beginning of Space Jam. That movie made a lot more money, but Cats Don't Dance, I find, is a much more superior film.
Okay. This movie isn't Bambi or Lady and the Tramp or a host of other really good animated movies. But this movie doesn't try to be like that. Instead of an animated movie that tries to be deep and serious, we instead get a movie that just tries to be a good old fashioned cartoon. But this movie isn't just mediocre fare. Being a far cry from the horrible Rock-A-Doodle or even the average Anastasia, this movie is backed by a smart, witty script that moves at a good pace and never slows down.
So what's it all about? It's about a young cat who can sing and dance. He packs his bags for Hollywood, hoping to make it big as a star. Instead, he finds a species barrier of sorts. All the good parts go to humans. All the bit parts go to the animals. Soon, he meets a host of other animal characters who have had their dreams shattered. Speaking of characters, the cast in Cats Don't Dance is quite a collection. Not one is a weak character. Not one. There are no "second fiddle" characters, no stupid sidekicks. Everybody is equally fun, and everybody makes this movie enjoyable. Even the villain is a laugh riot.
Despite the deep and important theme, this movie is still, at its heart, a good, clean, lighthearted family movie. This film is witty and will make you laugh like never before, with slapstick humor and gags galore. The humor is a slightly different flavor from the kind seen in Disney. It is a far cry from the bad humor standard, which got set by Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King. And for people who want a little something more, this movie isn't just fun and games. It strikes a perfect balance between humor and emotion. It even has a little action. But this movie won't scare your kids. There are no dark issues, no big fights, and nobody dies. There are no hidden messages for cautious parents to worry about(hint hint, cautious parents).
So what's in it for adults and older kids? How about a chance to see the real Hollywood as it looked in the 30s? How about a chance to see animation versions of all the old stars of that period? How about fast, vibrant animation, with incredible dance sequences modeled after the late Gene Kelley? As you can see, this is a far cry from being the horrible or even mediocre movie many critics took it for. No, it's not stellar material, but it's a very entertaining movie. It's perfect for the younger set, but there's something for everybody, especially animation buffs. It was made the way animated movies used to be made, with none of the fanciness. Odds are good you never heard of or even bothered to pick up this title. It got very little attention. But I recommend you give it a try. You'll probably like it.
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