Best Sellers (2021)

by Linda Kay

Directed by: Lina Roessler

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

Synopsis: After taking over her father’s publishing house, Lucy Stanbridge (Aubrey Plaza) is desperate for a writer who can relaunch the business. She looks to the house’s original big star, Harris Shaw (Michael Caine), for the bailout only to discover he is a surly, cantankerous old man who doesn’t want to play ball.

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Shaw owns a lovely Abyssinian cat named Hemmy (after Ernest Hemmingway). The film opens on a shot of Hemmy running through Shaw’s house, ending up at Shaw’s feet as the man sits writing at his desk.

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy sniffing at floor

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy running toward Harris Shaw Michael Caine at desk

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy sitting up at desk

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy running through house then sitting up at desk animated gif

Fed up with the telephone ringing, Shaw chucks the device out the window. Later he is apologetically retrieving the phone from the yard as Hemmy watches through the broken glass.

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy looking out broken window at Harris Shaw Michael Caine

Not able to reach Shaw any other way, Lucy and her assistant Rachel (Ellen Wong) show up at his house and let themselves in. Rachel is startled by Hemmy which frightens Shaw into pulling a shotgun on the pair.

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy on couch with Harris Shaw Michael Caine and Lucy Aubrey Plaza and Rachel Ellen Wong

Realizing that his original contract clearly shows he owes them a book, Shaw agrees to let one of his works be published and also consents to going on a book tour. His one stipulation is that someone take care of Hemmy, who needs medicine three times a day. Lucy volunteers Rachel who is quick to point out her roommate is allergic to cats. Lucy says they can stay at her apartment, so they move in. During the tour we cut back to scenes of Rachel with Hemmy. The first of these has Rachel exploring Lucy’s closet and surprised to find Hemmy there.

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy in closet looking at Rachel Ellen Wong

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy in closet with Rachel Ellen Wong

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy in closet startling Rachel Ellen Wong animated gif

Next Rachel is taking a bath with Hemmy nearby.

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy next to bathtub with Rachel Ellen Wong

And finally Rachel takes Hemmy in his carrier to show him Shaw’s books prominently displayed in a store window.

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy in carrier being shown bookstore window by Rachel Ellen Wong

Near the end of the film Shaw is ailing and Lucy and Rachel get Hemmy into his carrier to take him home.

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy being placed in carrier by Rachel Ellen Wong and Lucy Aubrey Plaza

Shaw and his cat are lovingly reunited.

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy being hugged by Harris Shaw Michael Caine

Best Sellers - Abyssinian cat Hemmy being hugged by Harris Shaw Michael Caine animated gif

Hemmy is often sitting close to Shaw until the end. Oddly enough, we don’t ever see Hemmy after Shaw passes, but we assume Lucy continued to take care of him.