House Arrest (1996)

Directed by: Harry Winer

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Upset by the news that their parents are separating, Grover Beindorf (Kyle Howard) and his sister Stacey (Amy Sakasitz) lock them in the basement hoping for a reconciliation.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): The Beindorfs own a longhair ginger tabby cat. (The subtitles on the streaming version say the cat’s name is “Fluffy” but other reliable sources and the sound of the name being spoken appears to be Flossie).

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie getting bowl of food on floor

Flossie is sitting on the father’s suitcases when Grover realizes the split may be more serious than his parents are letting on.

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie sitting on suitcase

In Grover’s room, Stacey pets Flossie and then picks her up, commenting on how she has been chasing rats in the basement. This gives Grover the idea of using the basement as a possible solution to their problem.

House Arrest - Grover Kyle Howard and Stacey Amy Sakasitz with longhair tabby cat Flossie on bed
House Arrest - Grover Kyle Howard and Stacey Amy Sakasitz with longhair tabby cat Flossie on bed

Flossie is in a wagon full of tools as the kids nail the basement door shut and leave their parents to their imprisonment overnight.

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie riding in wagon full of tools
House Arrest - Grover Kyle Howard and Stacey Amy Sakasitz with longhair tabby cat Flossie in wagon
House Arrest - Grover Kyle Howard and Stacey Amy Sakasitz with longhair tabby cat Flossie in wagon

The next morning the parents promise they have made up, but when they start to squabble again Grover quickly tries to nail them back in. The father pushes on the door and knocks a chair across the kitchen, scaring Flossie. A Poor Cat Screech is dubbed in here (and not for the last time!)

House Arrest - Grover Kyle Howard and Stacey Amy Sakasitz with longhair tabby cat Flossie running away in background

Things really spiral out of control when the school bully T.J. Krupp (Herbert Russell) shows up and he and Grover’s friend Matt (Mooky Arizona) decide to expand upon the idea, capturing their own parents and bringing them over to lock them in the basement, too. They also bring their pets, a bulldog named Cosmo and T.J.’s pet python. Cosmo chases Flossie around the house (second and third Poor Cat Screeches) as things descend into chaos.

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie running from bulldog in background

After a crazy day, Stacey is sleeping in a chair with Flossie in her arms.

House Arrest - Stacey Amy Sakasitz sleeping with longhair tabby cat Flossie in her arms

The kids band together to make a meal for the parents, splattering goop all over the kitchen and at Flossie who runs away with yet another Poor Cat Screech (number four.)

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie on floor
House Arrest - kids splattering food and scaring longhair tabby cat Flossie animated gif

The kids become very close, even holding each other’s pets.

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie sitting in lap of T.J. Herbert Russell

Flossie never really has any direct part in the action but is often present.

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie on table as kids make food
House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie on floor eating food with bulldog Cosmos

When Grover finds out his mother actually went to an attorney and filed for divorce papers, he is livid. He slams down the phone and scares poor Flossie yet again (Poor Cat Screech number five!)

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie startled as phone is slammed down
House Arrest - Grover Kyle Howard slamming down phone and scaring longhair tabby cat Flossie animated gif

Eventually things work out okay and the entire cast is shown under the end credits dancing on the shores of Hawaii, including the animals. Flossie has his own shot, licking at a tropical drink in a wicker basket.

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie on Hawaii beach behind end credits

The animals were provided by Animal Actors of Hollywood. It would appear at least two cat actors shared the role.

House Arrest - longhair tabby cat Flossie sitting in lap of T.J. Herbert Russell

Final Mewsings: This may be the most times a Poor Cat Screech was used in a movie!

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