by Mark Murton

Directed by: Robert Ludketic

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

Synopsis: Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl), the uptight producer of a local Sacramento morning TV show, finds herself saddled with Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler), the obnoxious chauvinistic presenter of woman-baiting cable show The Ugly Truth, when he is hired in an effort to boost ratings. Mike’s theories on relationships are as distasteful to Abby as the man himself but undeterred Mike determines to prove his views correct and guide Abby towards finding true love.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Returning home after another disastrous date, Abby can at least take comfort in the enthusiastic welcome from her beautiful brown tabby cat, D’Artagnan.

The scene cuts to Abby’s bedroom as D’Artagnan jumps up onto the bed, inadvertently treading on the TV remote which changes the channel and so introduces Abby to Mike and his show The Ugly Truth.

Appalled but fascinated, Abby stands watching the show as D’Artagnan relaxes on the bed.

Unable to take any more Abby phones the show to take Mike to task.

Although by the time Mike has cut her off D’Artagnan’s attention is elsewhere!

On another night, Abby is in the bathroom when she hears breaking glass and looks out to see D’Artagnan on the floor next to the broken fish bowl.

She scolds D’Artagnan who runs off down the stairs with Abby in pursuit. Crossing the room, D’Artagnan jumps up onto a chair and out of an open window. As Abby runs outside after him D’Artagnan climbs up into a nearby tree and settles down on a high branch.

Reluctantly, Abby climbs the tree and gathers him up.

Relieved, she is about to climb back down when she spots her hot new neighbour, orthopaedic surgeon Colin Anderson (Eric Winter), in the window opposite dressed only in a towel having just emerged from the shower. D’Artagnan meows and Abby quickly covers the cat’s muzzle to keep him quiet.

At this point the branch she is standing on gives way and, dropping D’Artagnan, she finds herself hanging upside from another branch. Her screams attract the attention of Colin who hurries to the rescue. Abby accidentally pulls the towel off Colin, leaving him standing naked, and a well-timed, interested meow is inserted to the soundtrack for comedy effect. D’Artagnan looks up at the flailing Abby.

Having extracted Abby from her predicament Colin takes her back to his house and straps up her sprained foot. D’Artagnan obviously came too as he his seen rubbing around Colin’s legs.

Colin gathers up D’Artagnan as he delights the smitten Abby further by declaring himself a cat person.

Giddy, Abby makes her exit, leaving D’Artagnan still in Colin’s arms. Colin quickly opens the door and hands D’Artagnan to her.

Later D’Artagnan makes a brief appearance lying on Abby’s bed just before she wakes from a disturbing dream.

The cat is sitting in a chair nearby when Abby enters the living room to model an outfit for Mike.

D’Artagnan’s final appearance comes when Abby receives a gift bag from Mike and sits on the sofa to open it. Inside she finds a “remote vibrating brief” which seems to arouse D’Artagnan’s curiosity too.

Abby prepares for her date that night with Colin. Receiving a text from him telling her he’s running late Abby decides try on her new gift. As she does so, D’Artagnan comes down the stairs, jumps up on an armchair opposite her, and sits watching with interest.

The Animal Trainer on the film was Sue Chipperton of Check the Gate. D’Artagnan makes an additional appearance in the Bonus Features on the DVD / Blu-ray in the Gag Reel. The cat actor is standing between Eric Winter’s legs looking upwards just after he has lost his towel. The cat then stretches up out of shot much to the amusement of the crew. Their laughter causes the cat to drop back to the ground and look around in surprise.

We also learn from the Selected Scenes Commentary that D’Artagnan was played by four separate cats throughout the film and, unless it was a slip of the tongue, the cat in the vibrating brief scene was female.

Actress Katherine Heigl is also co-founder of the Jason Heigl Foundation (named for Katherine’s late brother), an animal advocacy group with the mission of ending animal cruelty and abuse.

Final Mewsings: Cats couldn’t be ugly if they tried.

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