zif ofoz
...... makes you grow up! And in 'Murder of a Cat' that is what we see. Clinton Moisey played by Franz Kranz finds his way out of his mothers basement, he exposes a corrupt local business, and then wins the affection of the girl he loves. All because he loved his cat first!Clinton is determined to solve the mystery of the 'arrow' and it takes him on a journey into himself and the community around him. This flick is lighthearted and often silly but the message prevails - behind every evil or good act there are many stories to be found.Some readers will think my review is finding too much in this simple flick but I think not. Kranz gives a stellar performance in his role as the adult that hasn't grown up but is forced to by circumstance. Once he made up his mind to solve the mystery he discovers there's more to himself than he or his mother realized.Fun, funny, silly, entertaining, and thought provoking.
Suradit
Clinton is a socially inept and challenged young man who lives in his mother's basement where he makes small action figure dolls. His best friend is a 17 year old cat. The cat is murdered. Clinton decides to play detective. It turns out the cat was leading a double life with another owner-friend, Greta, who thought the cat was hers. She is a young woman who lives in a senior citizens' home. Clinton and Greta then do some detecting together and uncover nefarious doings at a local department store that relate, quite improbably, to the cat's murder. I'm not sure who the intended audience for this film is meant to be, but I'd say fans of The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew might find it barely entertaining. As a half-hour or one-hour TV show, it would have been somewhat tolerable, but running an hour and forty minutes it dragged on way too long. Considering some of the actors involved, Greg Kinnear & Blythe Danner, among others, I expected a better quality result. Unfortunately it was more tedious and ridiculous than amusing or intriguing. The supposed suspense and mystery never really amounted to anything that would keep the viewer engaged. Although there was a romantic connection that developed between the two central characters, even that was unbelievable. There were some chuckles along the way, but they were few and far between. It was a major disappointment.
frannce
I loved this movie. It is quirky and playful, without being heavy handed. The direction is excellent. The actors all feel very natural as if we, as the audience, are witnessing a little slice of their lives. It tackles big topics of corporate greed, economic issues, aimlessness, disenfranchised youth, love, romance and loyalty. It characterizes alienation in a parent/child relationship in a profound way that is very touching. All of this wrapped in a fun and crazy adventure that starts with a CAT. It is a wild and entertaining ride that left me wanting to stay on board as long as I could. I did not want this film to end. I highly recommend it.
Cinnyaste
Check any screen writing manual for definitions of plot point, twist, rising action. Then the RomCom playbook: meet girl, lose girl by self, regain girl, lose girl to externals, win girl.Paint-by-numbers.The script for "Murder of a Cat" is a textbook example. Each move is telegraphed. Each line moves toward the big twist right on time at minute 77. It may not be enough to discount this, or any film, but sadly there's nothing else to recommend it.The chemistry between Nikki Reed and Fran Kranz is nonexistent. The former sleepwalks through a thankless, underwritten part while the latter, a sexless man-child living with Mom, was surely directed to angrily shout every line. Even the venerable J.K. Simmons phones it in, as does Greg Kinnear. Only Blythe Danner turns in a nuanced performance.Further, Fran Kranz isn't a character, he's an annoying, trite and insulting caricature that's an affront to sensibility.That leaves only plot: a Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew quest for the killer of Franz' cat. The yawn-inducing trail leading to the killer is paved with inane set pieces rolled in obvious that the filmmakers incorrectly believed was quirk.There's a slapdash, let's-get-this-over feel to the proceedings which may derive from a tight shooting schedule. That might be forgiven, but when the cast isn't invested that feeling wafts over the footlights to hapless audiences. That conceit is the worst aspect in this useless film."Murder of a Cat" is an unfunny, undramatic, unwatchable insult not worthy of anyone's time. Maybe your cat will like it. (Maybe they'll wish for the same fate as the cinematic feline.)
AD
