A Gift from Bob (2020)

by Linda Kay

Also Known As: A Christmas Gift from Bob

Starring: Bob

Directed by: Charles Martin Smith

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

Synopsis: Based on the book A Gift from Bob: How a Street Cat Helped One Man Learn the Meaning of Christmas by James Bowen. In this sequel / prequel to A Street Cat Named Bob, James (Luke Treadaway) has become a successful writer and shares a story about his first Christmas with his beloved cat Bob and the difficulties he faced during that time.

Featured Feline: The opening scenes find James and Bob attending a publisher’s end-of-year celebration and feeling decidedly out of place.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - James Bowen Luke Treadway at event with ginger tabby street cat Bob on shoulder

On the way home, James comes to the defense of a street busker unjustly being confronted by the police.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - James Bowen Luke Treadway with ginger tabby street cat Bob on shoulder

James buys the skeptical young man a meal and tells him the story of how he weathered a particularly difficult time during the previous holiday season thanks to Bob.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - James Bowen Luke Treadway sitting with ginger tabby street cat Bob and young man at outside table

Even having received assisted housing and work selling The Big Issue on London street corners, James and Bob are still struggling to pay for gas to warm their apartment, not to mention the ability to buy food regularly.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - ginger tabby street cat Bob under covers

A local charity worker and friend, Bea (Kristina Tonteri-Young), surprises James with a Christmas tree. James is not in the Christmas spirit.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - Bea Kristina Tonteri-Young with ginger tabby street cat Bob and small Christmas tree

Bob is always given the choice to either accompany James as he performs or sells magazines on the street or to stay home. Bob usually opts to go with James.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - ginger tabby street cat Bob on ground looking up

Kitty Cameo: They watch as a woman carries an expensive white Persian cat from a high end veterinary clinic and James wishes he could afford that for Bob.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - woman carrying white Persian cat out of expensive veterinarian clinic

Instead James takes Bob to the free veterinarian Becky (Daisy Badger) at Bea’s shelter, where other than a scratch he received from an aggressive dog Bob checks out to be in fine health.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - ginger tabby street cat Bob on table

Unfortunately Bob comes under the radar of two animal welfare officers, the amiable Jarvis (Aretha Ayeh) and the hot-headed and vindictive Leon (Tim Plester). James is asked to write a statement on his history with Bob in the event the case escalates to the point where Bob needs to be taken away for his own safety.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - James Bowen Luke Treadway with ginger tabby street cat Bob and Jarvis Aretha Ayeh

A series of serious setbacks leaves James questioning whether or not Bob would be better off without him. This gets even worse when Bob comes down sick.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - ginger tabby street cat Bob close up

A Christmas Gift from Bob - James Bowen Luke Treadway petting sick ginger tabby street cat Bob

James’ friends rally around him when they find out about the animal welfare investigation. Moody (Phaldut Sharma), the man who runs the local convenience store, starts on online petition which quickly gains momentum. Local artists paint a mural in honor of Bob.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - James Bowen Luke Treadway with ginger tabby street cat Bob on shoulder looking at mural

In the end, the value of friendship and kindness wins out and James even gets the inspiration for his next book.

A Christmas Gift from Bob - James Bowen Luke Treadway with ginger tabby street cat Bob on shoulder with Moody Phaldut Sharma and Bea Kristina Tonteri-Young

The cat coordinator on the film was Jill Clark with Roger Farr, Jana Jenokova and Connie Rusgen acting as animal trainers. Bob the cat once again played himself in some scenes while other cat actors also played the famous feline in various scenes.