Lifetime
Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Megan Charpentier, Daniel Roebuck
Also Starring: Tardar Sauce (Grumpy Cat)
Directed by: Tim Hill
Synopsis: The Internet sensation Grumpy Cat in her full-length movie debut. Grumpy Cat (voiced by Aubrey Plaza) is living in a mall pet store. A young girl named Chrystal (Megan Charpentier) wishes on a magic coin that she could find a loyal friend. Lo and behold Chrystal can hear Grumpy Cat talking and together they thwart the robbery of the million dollar dog the pet store owner is hoping will save his business.
Cinema Cat: Tardar Sauce (known throughout the internet world as Grumpy Cat) was technically already a cat actor before her feature debut, but this film written specifically for her seals the deal (and let’s face it, how many cat actors have had movies written *for* them?) Grumpy is delightful in her role, playing her usual grumpy self. Aubrey Plaza does a good job of putting voice to Grumpy (I’m sure there are those who don’t think the voice fits, but then that’s an unenviable job to try to put the correct voice to a character usually seen only in still pictures since everyone will have a different idea of what Grumpy should sound like.)
The best thing this telefilm has going for it is its complete sense of self-deprication. They do not take any of it very seriously, which was a smart move on the part of the producers, writers and director. In fact there are plenty of jokes about Grumpy merchandise and even winking nudges aimed at Lifetime movies in general. These go a long way in making what would otherwise be a typical schmaltzy made-for-TV Christmas movie more than palatable.
That’s not to say the movie doesn’t have heart. They walk that fine line between complete parody and sentiment very nicely. But the plot and the other characters are certainly secondary, it’s Grumpy the viewers have tuned in to see and there’s plenty of her to enjoy. Even the stand-in fake Grumpys used during various scenes (like when Chrystal is running with the cat in her arms) are good! So if you’re a fan in the Christmas mood, give it a try!
Final Mewsings: We hope Grumpy will continue to act for a long time to come.
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