The curse of our modern times is that everything seems to reference something else...very few films are truly original any more. That being said, A Cat In Paris is nicely done and a pleasant way to pass about one hour with your kids (realistically engaging for ages 6 to 10). Certainly, it will do you all some good to see old-fashioned animation once in a while in our computer-generated world.
Plot: Girl gets kidnapped by crime boss who wants to use her to steal something valuable. Some animal friends set out to rescue her, leading to some spectacular chase scenes and heartwarming moments. Along the way, a few more animal friends help them..will they manage to save the girl? Will the criminals be brought to justice? Grownup's view: Once I realized where I'd seen this story before, everything fell into place; change the two mice to one cat and his cat burglar friend, and A Cat In Paris is basically The Rescuers with a few minor differences in plot elements and a major location change. But what a change! I'll take a wild chase or two among the midnight rooftops of Paris over the Bayou any day. Those "Hunchback of Notre Dame" moments were definitely the best sequences of this film.
Visual: The really original thing about A Cat In Paris was the animation style, which is...well okay, it's somewhat a homage to the art of Pablo Picasso. It's a bold choice, and since I can't recall the last animated film that paid tribute to Picasso, I'm calling this "original". The movements of the characters do seem uniquely sinuous here and there, and it is an especially fitting way to animate cats and cat burglars.
Cynic's angle: Honestly though, the critical acclaim and the awards for ACIP baffle me. Are we so starved for something different from the last decade of wisecracking, slickly-dressed "kids" films, that we pounce on anything that doesn't smack of Disney and proclaim it great? (only to find that indeed, it was much like Disney's old formula anyway..)Yeah, I feel that way myself all too often.
Conclusion: A the end of the movie, we had all enjoyed it, but not enough to watch it again. If I'd bought this at current retail I'd have been a little annoyed because it was so short..recommended for an on-demand viewing.
Plot: Girl gets kidnapped by crime boss who wants to use her to steal something valuable. Some animal friends set out to rescue her, leading to some spectacular chase scenes and heartwarming moments. Along the way, a few more animal friends help them..will they manage to save the girl? Will the criminals be brought to justice? Grownup's view: Once I realized where I'd seen this story before, everything fell into place; change the two mice to one cat and his cat burglar friend, and A Cat In Paris is basically The Rescuers with a few minor differences in plot elements and a major location change. But what a change! I'll take a wild chase or two among the midnight rooftops of Paris over the Bayou any day. Those "Hunchback of Notre Dame" moments were definitely the best sequences of this film.
Visual: The really original thing about A Cat In Paris was the animation style, which is...well okay, it's somewhat a homage to the art of Pablo Picasso. It's a bold choice, and since I can't recall the last animated film that paid tribute to Picasso, I'm calling this "original". The movements of the characters do seem uniquely sinuous here and there, and it is an especially fitting way to animate cats and cat burglars.
Cynic's angle: Honestly though, the critical acclaim and the awards for ACIP baffle me. Are we so starved for something different from the last decade of wisecracking, slickly-dressed "kids" films, that we pounce on anything that doesn't smack of Disney and proclaim it great? (only to find that indeed, it was much like Disney's old formula anyway..)Yeah, I feel that way myself all too often.
Conclusion: A the end of the movie, we had all enjoyed it, but not enough to watch it again. If I'd bought this at current retail I'd have been a little annoyed because it was so short..recommended for an on-demand viewing.