I am willing to recognize the fact that, in its relatively short stint in theaters, Cats (2019) has been received poorly. So poorly, in fact, that Universal has gone as far as removing it from Academy Award consideration, a motion that came as a surprise to most, primarily of the fact that it was ever going to be considered at all.

I, for one, am utterly disappointed. In complete genuinity, I thought Cats was a very good film. I will admit, there were many points where I was plainly confused, unsure of character motivations and how I should feel about certain cats and events. Regardless, by the time the movie was over I was thoroughly satisfied. I felt that the coloring was stunning, effects were impressive, and the music was, in general, fun.

Perhaps I went in more sympathetic than the average viewer as a longtime fan of musical-to-movie adaptations; Les Mis, Grease, and Chicago are among my list of all-time favorites. Honestly, though, Cats has a lot of charm in its own right. I am able to recognize the reasons why one might find this movie deeply disturbing, which even I felt at those same points in the movie. For example, the majority of musical numbers are excessively long and undoubtedly confusing, and a few songs probably could have been cut from the film altogether. 

At the end of the day, all enjoyment of Cats comes completely from one’s capability to suspend their disbelief. Sure, cats don’t walk on two legs. Yes, real cats don’t typically sing and dance. But this movie, once a highly popular musical, takes what you know about reality for a spin. In order to have a good time, you need to be ready for the ride.

Cats is still being shown in a small number of theaters in the area, and it will be released digitally in March.