Cats: A Catastrophe of Cinematic Proportions

There are movies that leave you scratching your head, wondering how something went so wrong. Cats, the live-action adaptation of the iconic musical, is one of those films. From the very first frame, it’s clear that this film is going to be a wild ride, but not in a good way. Instead of the whimsical, magical world that the musical might have promised, Cats descends into an uncomfortable and unsettling spectacle. The disjointed narrative, bizarre character designs, and unsettling performances result in a film that is more nightmare than musical.

The movie’s visuals alone are enough to leave you cringing. The CGI on the human-like cats is both grotesque and uncanny, with the characters looking like something out of a fever dream. The performances, too, are hard to watch. While the cast is undeniably talented, their renditions of the iconic characters feel awkward and unnatural. The singing is downright painful at times, with Jennifer Hudson’s only redeeming moment being the emotionally stirring "Memory." Outside of that, however, the film’s musical numbers lack the magic that made the stage version such a beloved classic. The songs are forgettable, lacking both catchiness and emotional resonance.

The narrative is a mess, with each scene seeming like an incoherent excuse to string together one musical number after another. There’s no real plot to hold everything together, and the pacing is disorienting. The film is all over the place, without any clear direction. This makes for a jarring and uncomfortable viewing experience. The performances, despite the star-studded cast, fail to create the necessary engagement for the audience. There’s an eerie, almost fetishistic quality to the characters, making it hard to enjoy any part of the film.

In terms of story, Cats is incoherent. It is as if the filmmakers tried to translate the theatrical musical to the screen without fully understanding how it would work in a different medium. The end result is a film that should be studied in film schools as an example of how not to adapt a stage musical. Some might find humor in the absurdity of it all, but for most viewers, Cats is an unbearable experience that should be left behind. It’s not just a bad movie—it’s a disturbing one that will haunt you long after the credits roll.