Manuel Gomez

When the classic musical “Cats” composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber was announced to hit the big screen the possibilities seemed endless. While this film has nostalgia for fans of the stage play; it ultimately leaves a void that it never quite fills. The CGI was at times painful to see. From odd bulges, strange looking hands and simply an overly sexual design left me wondering why they didn’t just stick with costumes. Choreography was changed, characters were different; (no kittens)and one of my favorite scenes where the white kitten dances at the ball to a express her coming of age and sexuality was heavily edited (doing no favors to the talented ballerina Francesca Hayward) and thus lost all meaning that had touched me in the stage play. Yes “Cats” is a musical but majority of this nearly 2 hour film is just music. The film brings together big names such as Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen and Taylor Swift to name a few but they are quickly lost in the debacle. The minuscule amount of time spent on the story and character development had a detrimental effect on the cast. Grizabellas plight that I had once found moving seemed trivial. While Jennifer Hudson delivered powerful vocals on many of her characters beloved songs the scope of the film was so limited that neither she could break free of its restraints. James Corden and Rebel Wilson are the definite “comic relief” but while Corden has his moments Wilson’s role was an utter joke. In one of her worst roles yet; her non humorous repetitive lines, idiotic scenes, and just out of place crotch shots left a horrid impression that was not easily forgotten. Memorable moments included the vocals from both Jennifer Hudson and Jason Derulo. Taylor swift shined in her role but even tho it was highly advertised was a mere ten minutes of the entirety of the film. Overall “Cats” was the golden coin chocolate promising on the outside but bland and uiniviting on the inside. Fans of the stage play will find glimpses of light here and there but just like Grizabellas plight this musical has had better days in the sun.