A Cool, Dry Place (1998)

Directed by: John N. Smith

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

Synopsis: Abandoned by his wife, Russell Durrell (Vince Vaughn) struggles between work and raising his son Calvin (Bobby Moat) on his own.

Kitty Cameo: At the beginning of the film, Calvin is running outside in the rain wearing his pajamas and cowboy hat and carrying a pillow. He hurries across the yard calling, “I’m coming, Mooney!” Underneath the vehicle is a grey and white tabby cat.

A Cool, Dry Place - gray and white tabby cat Mooney under car

The boy crawls under the car to get the cat.

A Cool, Dry Place - Calvin Bobby Moat crawling under cat to get gray and white tabby cat Mooney
A Cool, Dry Place - Calvin Bobby Moat crawling under cat to get gray and white tabby cat Mooney
A Cool, Dry Place - Calvin Bobby Moat crawling under cat to get gray and white tabby cat Mooney

Calvin wakes his father who asks why the boy is all wet and dirty. The boy explains he was just getting Mooney. “She’s a long way from home,” Russell notes, “Where is ol’ Mooney now?” “She’s okay,” Calvin assures him. “Where is okay, Cal?” “Drying with the clothes,” Calvin admits. Russell leaps out of bed saying, “Not okay!” He rushes out to the porch and checks the clothes dryer but thankfully it is empty and not running. He asks again where the neighbor’s cat is and finally realizes Mooney is in the laundry bag hanging from a line. Russell pulls Mooney out of the bag.

A Cool, Dry Place - Russell Vince Vaughn helping gray and white tabby cat Mooney out of laundry bag
A Cool, Dry Place - Russell Vince Vaughn lifting gray and white tabby cat Mooney out of laundry bag

Russell then unceremoniously dumps Mooney outside on the steps and closes the door. For all this, Mooney does not appear in the movie again.

A Cool, Dry Place - gray and white tabby cat Mooney dropped on step outside door
A Cool, Dry Place - gray and white tabby cat Mooney dropped on step outside door

Final Mewsings: Cats appreciate a cool, dry place and not being dumped back into a cold, wet world.

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