Highlights: I know this isn’t the most popular Disney movie, but it’s one that I really enjoy. It’s fun, it’s cute, and it’s got a decent plot line. It’s just a very likeable movie to me. Take Duchess, our main character. She is extremely easy going and always happy. She doesn’t really get super upset about things, and finds amusement in other characters that you might think would annoy her. Although she’s clearly spent her whole life being rich and spoiled, she’s not stuck up about it at all. And the kittens. They are soooo cute, how could you not love them? They really do make the movie. Tom O’Malley is fun as well, and while he might be a little rough around the edges it’s definitely clear that he has a good heart.
Low points: Aside from the ending, they never really seemed to be in any real danger. Sure, they’re left in the rain, but they’re quickly found by Tom. And then they really just head on home. They encounter some adventures, such as the geese and the alley cats, but none of them are particularly dangerous in any way. The worst that they face is probably when they come home and Edgar puts them in the oven – I thought for a moment he was going to cook them! But of course it’s clear they’re going to get rescued. It’s a bit lacking in direction and all over the place, and I understand that’s why some people don’t care for the film.
Music: There are definitely a few good songs in this one. In particular, there is one outstanding tune, which is, of course, “Everybody Wants To Be a Cat.” It’s jazzy, fun, everyone knows it, and the animation that goes along with it is great. The only other song that was memorable for me was the cute “Scales and Arpeggios.” There were a few other songs, such as Tom’s song and the intro song of “The Aristocats,” but nothing too noteworthy.
Villain Rating: As far as villains go, Edgar is pretty lame and ineffective. We first see him as the faithful butler, and he seems like a decent guy. He laughs a little at the kittens and from what they say about him it’s clear that he’s doted on them in the past. However, once he hears that the will leaves everything to the cats, he just snaps. Anyone who would try to get rid of cute, adorable kittens like that is clearly a bad person. It’s awful the things that money can do to people. While Edgar is clearly a villain, he’s not very good at it. At least he gets shipped off to Timbuktu.
Fun Fact: This was the last film approved by Walt Disney himself. Although it was released after his death, he had approved the idea before he passed away.
Where in the World: Marie is the only character from this film that really has any sort of representation in Walt Disney World. She does meet and greets, and I know you can find her in Epcot’s France pavilion.
My rating: 8 out of 10. What can I say, I’m a sucker for adorable kittens.
Too derivative of other better movies especially 101 Dalmatians and Lady and the Tramp. If those movies didn’t exist I would give it a pass but it feels mediocre because they do. The villain is so lame.
It’s harmless for small children but when you can watch Tramp and Dalmatians they are so much better.
That’s true, I did at one point while watch it say, “This is pretty much the same thing as Lady and the Tramp, just with cats instead of dogs.” I’m a cat person so I think I enjoy this one more than those other two. It probably also helps that I wasn’t alive when any of them came out – so even though this one came after chronologically, I think it was the first one I watched as a kid so it seemed new to me.
I too enjoy this movie. I actually think the Thomas O’Malley song is extremely underrated!
I agree, it’s actually rather catchy and I’ve found that I’ve had it stuck in my head a couple of times since watching this movie!