French animation A Cat in Paris falls flat
Heist film has trouble stealing audience's attention
by Curt Holman @Curt_Holman
Related Films
-
A Cat in Paris (Une vie de chat)
-
- Rated PG - Animation, Family
- Directed by Jean-Loup Felicioli
- Stars Dominique Blanc, Bruno Salomone, Jean Benguigui and Bernadette Lafont
- Opens Fri. Jun. 1 in area theaters
-
Given that house cats and French people dwell on compatible levels of hauteur and hedonism, A Cat in Paris seems like the perfect match of subject and setting. An Oscar nominee for this year's Best Animated Feature, A Cat in Paris offers a jazz-era vision of Paris by night as a feline named Dino accompanies a burglar on daring heists over tile rooftops.
While primarily a lighthearted, family-friendly romp, A Cat in Paris takes a cavalier attitude toward some dark plot points. Dino spends his days with Zoé, a little girl left mute after her father's murder. Zoé's mother, a police superintendent, obsesses over finding the killer, a clownish mobster surrounded by nincompoop henchmen. The film's second half turns into a series of chases, but the elements of grief and betrayal never gel with the labored levels of slapstick and wisecracks, a weakness exacerbated by the film's English-language dub.
Shown with the droll short "The Extinction of the Sabre-Toothed Housecat," A Cat in Paris barely clocks in at more than an hour and still feels thin. Its inclusion as an animated feature Oscar nominee this year seems like a show of support for 2-D animation in general, rather than a passionate endorsement of the film overall.
Nevertheless, the film's easy on the eyes. The filmmakers embrace a flat, fluid approach reminiscent of cartoonist Richard Sala. Highlights include the stark, silhouetted credits sequences, a chase amid the gargoyles of Notre Dame cathedral, and a slinky cat burglary montage set to a Billie Holiday tune. At one point, a blackout renders characters unable to see, and the animation turns from color to black-and-white outlines, as if drawn with chalk. During a summer of CGI blockbusters like Madagascar 3, at least A Cat in Paris gives parents a chance to teach their kids to appreciate the endangered form of animation done by hand.
We also recommend ...
Tags:
65 min. | Rated PG
Director: Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol
Writer: Alain Gagnol
Producer: Jacques-Rémy Girerd
Cast: Dominique Blanc, Bruno Salomone, Jean Benguigui and Bernadette Lafont
Latest in Movie Review
-
Fast and Furious, now for the sixth time
What to make of this street racing oeuvre?
-
Stylish Trance leaves viewers less than spellbound 2
Danny Boyle's hypno-thriller falls short of entrancing intro
-
Stoker presents a disturbing teen coming-of-rage story 1
'Oldboy' director switches to Goth girl in stylish suspense thriller
- More »
More by Curt Holman
-
Which summer movie is right for you?
Our critic has made a flowchart to help you decide
-
Crazed horror-comedy 'John Dies at the End' deserves cult status 1
The director of the 'Phantasm' horror films delivers a winning blend of deadpan humor, Zen-style philosophy and deranged set pieces.
- More »
-
Fast and Furious, now for the sixth time
What to make of this street racing oeuvre?
-
The ATL Twins are Spring Breakers forever 49
Sidney and Thurman Sewell might have your attention now, but it will never be enough
-
Our guide to the 2013 Atlanta Film Festival
Gender roles, world premieres, rock icons and more at this year's festival
Recent Comments
-
Re: Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children hits theatres
I can see Rushdie's stuff adapting well. Lots of plot to play with.
-
on May 18, 2013
- More »
