There are a group of fans who believe that Ghibli can do no wrong. Yet even the studio who gave us classics such as NAUSICAA, PRINCESS MONONOKE, LAPUTA, and SPIRITED AWAY, are capable of turning out a second-class effort. THE CAT RETURNS, a curious entry to the Ghibli library, is one such movie. Directed by newcomer Hiroyuki Morita, this film is a spin-off of Yoshifumi Kondo's magical WHISPER OF THE HEART--almost unheard of for a studio that strives on original productions.
The story, which involves a moody high school student whisked away to the Cat Kingdom after she rescues a feline from being run over by a truck, is serviceable but uninspired and predictable in a Disney-ish sort of way--a trait that Miyazaki and Takahata's works never shared, and that is a detriment to this film. The biggest problem I have with the movie is the "believe in yourself" message. Rather than allowing the viewer to watch the struggles of the protagonist and determine what she has to learn in order to return to her homeland, Haru is given this very message verbally about halfway through the movie. Not only does this undermine the theme, it makes the ultimate resolution less satisfactory than it should be.
THE CAT RETURNS is not a bad film by any means. It has its preciously delightful moments (an adorable scene where we see a young girl feeding a small, filthy kitten fish crackers and a very charming ballroom dance sequence), a healthy share of comedy (mostly in the form of a grouchy fat furball named Muta), and one truly memorable character, a suave, splendidly dressed "aristocat" antique by the name of Baron (his presence carries the movie as a whole). But while unquestionably fine for children and families, THE CAT RETURNS is ultimately a weaker effort, both narratively and artistically (the artwork, although colorful and imaginative for the most part lacks the polish that we have come to expect from Ghibli), and consequently, is not especially memorable.
Aurally, THE CAT RETURNS cannot be faulted. The musical score from Yuji Nomi (WHISPER OF THE HEART) is pleasantly orchestral and charming, and the ending theme song which accompanies the closing credits is lovely and catching. And of course, Disney does yet another fabulous job of providing a top-notch cast to translate the movie into English. These include Tim Curry, Peter Boyle, and Elliot Gould. Special credit in particular goes to Cary Elwes (Donald Curtis in PORCO ROSSO), who is perfect as the suave, debonair Baron. On the other side of the spectrum, Anne Hathaway is Haru, although good, sometimes comes across as too whiney. Granted, this is how her character is supposed to be, but it does detract from the likability of the character.
As mentioned, children will obviously enjoy THE CAT RETURNS, but in contrast to the studio's more memorable features, it falls disappointingly short. Although better than the worst animated features out there, THE CAT RETURNS, so far, ranks as the weakest of the Studio Ghibli films. Ghibli completists will pick it up just for the sake of "owning the entire collection", but chances are it be among their top ten lists.
The story, which involves a moody high school student whisked away to the Cat Kingdom after she rescues a feline from being run over by a truck, is serviceable but uninspired and predictable in a Disney-ish sort of way--a trait that Miyazaki and Takahata's works never shared, and that is a detriment to this film. The biggest problem I have with the movie is the "believe in yourself" message. Rather than allowing the viewer to watch the struggles of the protagonist and determine what she has to learn in order to return to her homeland, Haru is given this very message verbally about halfway through the movie. Not only does this undermine the theme, it makes the ultimate resolution less satisfactory than it should be.
THE CAT RETURNS is not a bad film by any means. It has its preciously delightful moments (an adorable scene where we see a young girl feeding a small, filthy kitten fish crackers and a very charming ballroom dance sequence), a healthy share of comedy (mostly in the form of a grouchy fat furball named Muta), and one truly memorable character, a suave, splendidly dressed "aristocat" antique by the name of Baron (his presence carries the movie as a whole). But while unquestionably fine for children and families, THE CAT RETURNS is ultimately a weaker effort, both narratively and artistically (the artwork, although colorful and imaginative for the most part lacks the polish that we have come to expect from Ghibli), and consequently, is not especially memorable.
Aurally, THE CAT RETURNS cannot be faulted. The musical score from Yuji Nomi (WHISPER OF THE HEART) is pleasantly orchestral and charming, and the ending theme song which accompanies the closing credits is lovely and catching. And of course, Disney does yet another fabulous job of providing a top-notch cast to translate the movie into English. These include Tim Curry, Peter Boyle, and Elliot Gould. Special credit in particular goes to Cary Elwes (Donald Curtis in PORCO ROSSO), who is perfect as the suave, debonair Baron. On the other side of the spectrum, Anne Hathaway is Haru, although good, sometimes comes across as too whiney. Granted, this is how her character is supposed to be, but it does detract from the likability of the character.
As mentioned, children will obviously enjoy THE CAT RETURNS, but in contrast to the studio's more memorable features, it falls disappointingly short. Although better than the worst animated features out there, THE CAT RETURNS, so far, ranks as the weakest of the Studio Ghibli films. Ghibli completists will pick it up just for the sake of "owning the entire collection", but chances are it be among their top ten lists.