"The Cat’s Meow"
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What You Need To Know:
CATS DON’T DANCE tells the inside story of the entertainment industry. With great animation, good music, funny yet stereotyped characters, and a basically moral message, CATS DON’T DANCE makes a fun afternoon matinee. However, it must be noted that the positive moral message is somewhat diminished by several instances of seeking revenge. Furthermore, the romantic theme of CATS DON’T DANCE teaches that one will be happy by doing what one loves most. Of course, this self-centered approach to happiness will only end in despair. If one really wants to be happy, one must do what God wants one to do which He makes very clear in His word written. However, given this discretionary caution, this is a fun, animated, musical movie
Content:
(Ro, B, V) Romantic, self-realization worldview with a moral message; cartoon action violence; and, revenge
More Detail:
Cartoons shouldn’t be this fun. CATS DON’T DANCE is a musical, and so right from the beginning Danny, a cat, breaks into the song, “You can do anything if you have a dream,” as he steps off the bus in front of the Graumann’s Chinese Theater. He is enthusiastic, because he hopes to gain the starring role in a Hollywood movie.
Entering the talent agency, Danny meets: Tillie, the hopelessly romantic soprano Hippo with an amusing fixation on introductions and repeating people’s names; Woolie, the piano-playing elephant; Francis, the (Iive already been caught) fish; Cranston, the inveterately pessimistic goat; T.W., the frightened little turtle; and, Sawyer, the cynical female feline and animal-talent agent’s secretary. After a woeful interlude by Tillie, Danny is introduced to the talent agent who offers Danny a casting call for a film about Noah and the Ark. Danny hurriedly signs his name on the thick, binding contract twelve times. The agent also recruits his secretary, Sawyer, promising her triple time for her acceptance.
On location, Danny receives his script and is disappointed by his lowly speech of “meow.” He feels that this small part belittles his singing talents, so he improvises a lilting “meow.” Unfortunately, his bravado upstages Darla, the spoiled starlet during her swinging scene. Darla takes revenge on all the animals by summoning her monster butler Max, who towers over the animals. A scheming Darla wants to destroy the animals’ hopes once and for all, so she offers to introduce the animals to Mr. Mammoth, the boss, at an false audition.
At the “audition,” Mr. Mammoth tells the surrounding press that the secret to his success is none other than Darla. At this point, she motions to her hit-man, Max, who manipulates the set controls for a huge tidal wave that washes the animals out of the studio on their ark. Hopes dashed, Danny gets on the bus to Kokomo, but gets an idea to expose Darla and returns to persuade the other animals to try again. On opening night, the animals battle with Max to expose Darla for the villain she is, and then they perform a song and dance number to rousing applause. Now, the animals have attained their fame and fortune.
Although CATS DON’T DANCE addresses the animal rights issue, it more cogently depicts underdogs (or in this case cats) rising above great obstacles to achieve success in pursuing their dreams. By being set in the 1930s, the movie shows a time when actors and actresses with different looks and different accents simply could not get parts.
CATS DON’T DANCE tells the inside story of the entertainment industry. With great animation, good music, funny yet stereotyped characters, and a basically moral message, CATS DON’T DANCE makes a fun afternoon matinee.
However, it must be noted that the positive moral message is somewhat diminished by several instances of seeking revenge. Furthermore, the romantic theme of CATS DON’T DANCE teaches that one will be happy by doing what one loves most. Of course, this self-centered approach to happiness will only end in despair. If one really wants to be happy, one must do what God wants one to do which He makes very clear in His word written: “If anyone wants to be my follower, he must put aside selfish ambition, take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). However, given this discretionary caution, this is a fun, animated, musical movie.
