Heart Condition (1990)

Heart Condition poster

New Line Cinema
Starring:
 Bob Hoskins, Denzel Washington
Also Starring:  Felix, Max
Directed by: James D. Parriott

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

Synopsis: Racist cop Jack Moony (Bob Hoskins) is shocked to become the donor recipient of black lawyer Napoleon Stone’s (Denzel Washington) heart and even more surprised when Stone starts visiting him from the afterlife to help solve his murder.

Featured Feline: Moony owns a long-haired tabby cat named Chuck who appears in several scenes and even plays a small part in helping solve the mystery. Chuck is first seen in Moony’s apartment sniffing into a fishbowl which is filled with rolls of undeveloped film.

Heart Condition - long haired tabby Chuck reaching into fishbowl of film rolls

Moony comes home after a rough day and feeds Chuck some milk in a bowl as he sits down to a bottle of Jack Daniels. He even pours some of the whiskey into the cat’s milk. The cat actor(s) did a good job of blocking Bob Hoskins from the camera with his bushy tail, causing Hoskins to even brush the tail away at one point.

Heart Condition - Jack Moony Bob Hoskins pouring milk for long haired tabby Chuck on table

Heart Condition - Jack Moony Bob Hoskins pushing away tail of long haired tabby Chuck on table

Heart Condition - long haired tabby Chuck drinking from bowl in which whiskey is being poured

Moony suddenly has a heart attack and falls to the floor. Chuck looks down over the edge of the table, wondering what is happening. Moony calls out to Chuck and Chuck quickly responds … by going back to his bowl to eat.

Heart Condition - long haired tabby Chuck looking down from table

After the heart transplant and recovery, Moony comes home and is startled by Chuck jumping down out of nowhere in a classic spring-loaded cat moment.

Heart Condition - long haired tabby Chuck on step

Heart Condition - Jack Moony Bob Hoskins walking up stairs with long haired tabby cat Chuck

Chuck follows Moony up the stairs and to the apartment where Stone, as a ghost, is waiting outside. Chuck does not seem to notice Napoleon at all.

Heart Condition - Jack Moony Bob Hoskins with long haired tabby cat Chuck approaching Napoleon Stone Denzel Washington

They enter the apartment and Chuck jumps up and runs over the couch.

Heart Condition - long haired tabby cat Chuck jumps over couch with Napoleon Stone Denzel Washington in background

In another scene Moony is thrown out of bed by Stone and is lying on the floor. Chuck runs over and sniffs at him.

Heart Condition - long haired tabby cat Chuck running toward man under sheet on floor

Reaching a dead end in their investigation, Moony and Stone are sitting in the apartment when Chuck moves over to the fish bowl and starts to sniff inside again (there was obviously some kind of food placed inside the bowl to get the cat actor to stick his head inside). This helps Moony realize an important clue he has overlooked.

Heart Condition - long haired tabby cat Chuck looking at fish bowl

Heart Condition - long haired tabby cat Chuck poking head into fish bowl full of film

Chuck is next seen beside Moony’s answering machine as he listens to a message from Crystal Gerrity (Chloe Webb), who is in trouble.

Heart Condition - long haired tabby cat Chuck next to answering machine

In the end there is a wedding and Chuck is seen sitting and waiting in the limo.

Heart Condition - long haired tabby cat Chuck looking out of limousine window

Chuck was played by cat actors Felix and Max. The animal trainers on the film were Steve Berens and Bob Dunn working for Worldwide Movie Animals.

Heart Condition - Jack Moony Bob Hoskins with long haired tabby Chuck on table

Final Mewsings: If you want your cat to call 911, don’t put booze in his dinner!


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