Brief Summary
The Ampliverse's podcast episode reviews the 2019 movie "Cats," discussing its plot, the original Broadway musical, casting choices, CGI, and critical reception. The hosts share their initial reactions, favorite and least favorite aspects, and propose changes to improve the film. They also play a game to test their knowledge of cat names from the "Cats" universe.
- The movie "Cats" is considered a flop due to poor CGI and a weak plot.
- The original Broadway musical was a groundbreaking "mega musical" but is often disliked by musical theater enthusiasts.
- The hosts discuss casting choices, particularly Jennifer Hudson as Grizabella and Taylor Swift as Bombalurina, and suggest alternative casting options.
- The episode concludes with each host sharing one change they would make to improve the film.
Intro
The hosts introduce the episode dedicated to discussing the movie "Cats". They mention the importance of visual effects and express their disappointment with the movie's reception, including negative reviews and comparisons to other poorly received adaptations. The hosts also introduce Molly as a new co-host and joke about the podcast's official status, complete with citations in MLA format.
Plot Summary and Initial Reactions
Molly provides a succinct one-minute summary of the plot of "Cats," highlighting Victoria's abandonment, the jellicle cats' ritual, and Grizabella's eventual ascension to the Heaviside Layer. The hosts discuss Victoria's role as a newly inserted protagonist and the general dislike of "Cats" among musical theater fans. They also share pop culture references to "Cats" from shows like "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and a possible reference in "Bob's Burgers".
Personal History with Cats
The hosts share their personal experiences and knowledge of "Cats" before watching the movie. Molly recalls learning choreography from the musical at a theater camp, while the other hosts primarily knew of it through its reputation as a disliked musical among theater enthusiasts. They mention references to "Cats" in "The Nanny" and Miranda Cosgrove's performance of "Memory" in "School of Rock".
Original Broadway Production
The hosts discuss the original Broadway production of "Cats," noting that its rights are available for local productions. They describe Andrew Lloyd Webber's initial concept for the musical, which was based on T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." The conversation touches on the creation of the show, the elaborate set design, and its status as the first "mega musical," emphasizing branding and spectacle. They also discuss Cameron Mackintosh's role in producing mega musicals like "Les Misérables," "Cats," and "Phantom of the Opera."
Plot Constraints and Success
The hosts discuss the mixed to favorable reviews of the original musical and the allowance given to its weak plot due to its presentational nature. They mention that T.S. Eliot's widow stipulated that the adaptation could not add anything not already in the poetry, which limited the plot. Despite this, T.S. Eliot won a Tony for best book of a musical in 1983. The original musical was the longest-running show on Broadway until 2006 and led to major cities becoming staples for world musical tourism.
Movie Production Details and Casting
The hosts discuss the movie adaptation of "Cats," directed by Tom Hooper, noting its budget, box office failure, and the special effects team's challenging work conditions. They mention potential casting choices, including Anne Hathaway and Rihanna, and the change of Old Deuteronomy from a male role to a female role played by Judi Dench. They also note that Judi Dench was originally cast as Grizabella in the West End production but had to step down due to an injury.
Awards and Initial Thoughts on the Movie
The hosts discuss the awards "Cats" won, including worst picture and worst director at the Golden Raspberry Awards. They then share their initial thoughts on the film, with one host expressing respect for its variable choices and another finding it slightly boring once accustomed to the CGI. They debate whether it will become a cult classic like "The Room" or "Rocky Horror Picture Show."
Scale and Jason Derulo's Performance
The hosts discuss the inconsistent scale of the cats in the movie and praise Jason Derulo's performance as Rum Tum Tugger. They note his enthusiasm and willingness to be a team player, contrasting it with other celebrities who seemed less engaged. They also discuss the invented boat scene and the changes made to Gus's original song from the stage version.
Judy Dench and Rebel Wilson
The hosts criticize Judy Dench's performance, suggesting she didn't try hard enough, and discuss the miscasting of Rebel Wilson. They note that Wilson and James Corden's comedic bits felt out of place and detracted from the musical's concept. They also point out that the movie is set in the 1930s, but the comedy style is modern, creating a jarring contrast.
Victoria and Beautiful Ghosts
The hosts discuss Francesca Hayward's portrayal of Victoria and the addition of the song "Beautiful Ghosts," noting that it feels inserted into the story and doesn't fit with the other songs. They criticize the song's purpose as an attempt to win an Academy Award and discuss the strict rules for Academy Award nominations. They also suggest that Victoria would have been better as a dance protagonist, with Grizabella as the singing protagonist.
Theology of Cats and Ian McKellen
The hosts discuss the theology of the "Cats" universe, including the moon as cat God and Old Deuteronomy as the cult leader. They question the meaning of the "beautiful ghosts" and criticize the use of synthesizers in the music. They praise Ian McKellen's performance, noting that he seemed to think he was in a BBC Masterpiece Classic.
Skimbleshanks and Homoeroticism
The hosts praise Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, and his musical number, describing it as the best production in the movie. They also discuss the homoerotic undertones of the character and the attempts to "no homo" the relationship between Mr. Mistoffelees and Rum Tum Tugger by showing them both liking Victoria.
Mr. Mistoffelees and Grizabella
The hosts discuss Mr. Mistoffelees and his role in the show, noting that in the original show, he brings back Old Deuteronomy. They then transition to discussing Grizabella, with one host suggesting that Jennifer Hudson was too young for the role and that it would have been better cast with a culturally known actress who is an actual Grizabella in real life.
Memory Performances and Celine Dion
The hosts compare Jennifer Hudson's performance of "Memory" to those of Elaine Paige, Betty Buckley, and Celine Dion. They suggest that Celine Dion would have been perfect for the role, citing her age, kooky energy, and the draw factor of seeing her in a movie musical. They also suggest that Celine Dion's diva energy could have helped to improve the film.
The Uncanny Valley and Dance
The hosts discuss the uncanny valley of the film's CGI, noting that it interferes with watching the dancing. They suggest that the fur obscures the dancers' bodies and makes it feel like watching animated characters. They also note that the cats don't move like real cats and that the film doesn't capture group dancing well.
Dance Movies and Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer
The hosts discuss great dance movies and the difficulty of translating musical theater dancing to film. They mention a proposed animated version of "Cats" directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Tom Stoppard, with Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer as the protagonists. They also discuss Taylor Swift's performance as Bombalurina and Idris Elba's role as Macavity.
Macavity and Addressing the Audience
The hosts criticize the way Macavity is introduced in the movie and discuss the film's failure to build up his character as a threat. They also discuss the addressing of the audience at the end of the movie, with one host finding it horrifying and another finding it brilliant.
Critical Reception and Cat or Not Game
The hosts share critical reviews of the film and play a game called "Cat or Not," in which they guess whether a cat name is from the movie or the stage show.
One Thing to Change and Final Thoughts
The hosts each share one thing they would change about the film, with suggestions including making a decision about direct address, getting rid of the CGI, and getting rid of the director. They conclude the episode by sharing their final thoughts and selecting a song from the movie to add to their Broadway playlist.
