Cats: The Play Vs. the Movie

Cats is a broadway hit musical that's been playing in theaters for decades.  The story is simple.  Each year a cat is chosen by Deuteronomy, the ancient cat, to go to Heaviside which I'm assuming to be Heaven for cats.  An outsider cat is taken into the world of the Jellicle cats and introduced to a variety of characters and the Jellicle ways.  The story kind of acts like a variety show of amazing singing and dance numbers.  At the end of the play, a pathetic, old cat named Grizabella gets picked to go up in a spaceship.  She is the cat who sings "Memories".  The setting of the play remains the same and the musical numbers have amazing ballet, tap, singing, and acrobatics.  I recently saw Cats in Dallas and it was spectacular. 5+/5 Stars.

Cats, the movie is a little different.  The story includes all of the songs, but the setting changes frequently.  Some of the dance numbers have special effects such as extra high jumps and impossible spins.  Francesca Hayward plays the lead cat Victoriam although there really is not a true lead.  She is the outsider looking into the lives of the Jellicles.  Her dancing is jaw-droppingly exquisite.  I looked up her bio and to no surprise, she is the principal ballerina in the Royal Ballet.  

Taylor Swift has a small but memorable singing role as Bombalurina, the cat who sings "Macavity", a bluesy showstopping number.  Her performance is awesome.  Equally impressive was Jennifer Hudson who nails "Memories" as Grizabella in a hauntingly beautiful style.  Other amazing numbers include "Railway Train", a tap dancing masterpiece, and the Jellicle Ball scene.

Some parts of the play were changed and other parts were added.  I thought Rebel Wilson was a waste.  I really liked the song she was assigned in the movie, however, she ruined it.  On stage, the song was so much better.  Rebel's "comedy" put a dent into an otherwise great movie.  The producers should have casted someone else.  I also didn't like the hot air balloon/chandelier in place of the spaceship.  With these minor points aside, the movie was still entertaining and elaborate, but the stage will always supercede the screen for me.  Nonetheless, it's a great holiday flick! 4/5 Stars.