Directed by: Tim Burton

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

Synopsis: A CGI-heavy variation on Lewis Carroll’s classic finds a maturing Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returning to Wonderland to help restore the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) to power.

Cartoon Cat: As in the original story Alice encounters the Cheshire Cat (voiced by Stephen Fry) in a dark forest.

The mysterious cat has the ability to evaporate, coming and going at will with his smile lingering.

He offers to take her to the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) and waits for her to follow.

Cheshire Cat joins the Mad Hatter’s tea party but talk of violence puts him off the beverage.

This infuriates Hatter. It is clear there is some history between him and Cheshire in which the cat bailed during times of trouble. Indeed the Cheshire Cat disappears the moment the enemy approaches.

When the Hatter is thrown in jail by the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), Cheshire Cat comes to see him.

The cat asks if the Hatter will bequeath him his hat.

This turns out to be a plan in which Cheshire takes the place of Hatter when he is taken to be executed. Cheshire Cat startles everyone by floating above them wearing the hat.

Cheshire Cat eventually returns the hat to Hatter.

When the White Queen asks for volunteers to kill the Jabberwocky, many offer their services, including Cheshire Cat.

After the battle, Cheshire takes the crown from the Red Queen’s head and places it on the White Queen.

Alice and Cheshire enjoy watching Hatter dance the Futterwacken.

The film expands liberally on the original text of the book but the way that Cheshire Cat is animated in this film is both terrifying and delightful, something cat lovers will no doubt appreciate.

Final Mewsings: All cats are experts at seemingly evaporating at will.

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