Cats (2019)
110 min · Musical, Fantasy
Famously low-rated thanks to unsettling digital fur and ambitious-but-baffling production choices.
The Bottom Reel's take
There are films that aim for the stars and gently drift back to Earth, and then there’s *Cats*. This 2019 cinematic event, a 110-minute journey into the uncanny valley, wasn't just swinging for the fences; it was attempting to launch itself into a whole new galaxy, paws first. Based on the beloved stage musical, this adaptation clearly wanted to translate that theatrical magic onto the big screen. What we got instead was a spectacle so unique, so utterly baffling in its ambition, that it instantly clawed its way into the pantheon of famously bad, unforgettably fun cinema. The chasm between its grand artistic vision and the bewildering execution is truly a sight to behold.
The texture of *Cats*'s badness is as tactile as its infamous digital fur. This is a film where every frame feels like a daring choice that someone, somewhere, truly believed in. The blend of musical and fantasy genres is certainly a lofty aspiration, but here it manifests in a way that confounds and mesmerizes. We’re presented with human-sized felines, complete with CGI whiskers and tails, performing elaborate dance numbers while maintaining an unsettling semblance of humanity. It’s a craft-level specificity that defies easy categorization and ensures that even with a critic score of 19/100, its legacy endures. The sheer commitment to these ambitious-but-baffling production choices is what elevates *Cats* from a mere misfire to a glorious, glittering fever dream.
Despite, or perhaps because of, its notoriously low ratings and unsettling visuals, *Cats* is absolutely worth your Friday night. The audience score of 53/100 hints at a divide, but for us at The Bottom Reel, it’s a testament to the film’s undeniable, if accidental, entertainment value. There’s a delicious camp to watching each meticulously rendered, slightly off-kilter performance, a sense of collective wonder at how it all came to be. It's a film that genuinely needs to be seen to be believed, transforming from a movie into an experience, where every musical number and every bizarre design choice adds another layer to its legendary status.
So, if you’re looking for a cinematic adventure that challenges your perceptions of what a big-budget musical can be, *Cats* awaits. It’s not a film to watch alone in somber contemplation; this is an event. Gather your most adventurous friends, prepare some strong snacks (perhaps some milk and catnip-flavored crackers, if you’re feeling thematic), and settle in for a ride. *Cats* is the kind of famously bad movie that guarantees a night of bewildered laughter, spirited discussion, and an unforgettable journey into the heart of truly singular cinema.
Synopsis
A tribe of feline performers gather for an annual ball to decide which of them ascends to a new life.