One Fine Day (1996)

One Fine Day poster

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Starring: George Clooney, Michelle Pfeiffer
Directed by: Michael Hoffman

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

Synopsis: The lives of two divorced parents, Melanie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Jack (George Clooney), clash when professional commitments are disrupted after their kids miss a school field trip.

Cat Burglars (Scene Stealers): Jack’s daughter, Maggie (Mae Whitman), loves cats and even has a cat backpack she carries throughout the film. When reporter Jack is forced to take her to the newspaper office with him, they go to editor Lew’s (Charles Durning) office. Lew shows Maggie a tabby Maine Coon cat which is lying in his desk drawer. He explains the cat’s name is Lois Lane.

One Fine Day - Maine Coon cat Lois Lane in desk drawer with Maggie Mae Whitman

Lew tells Maggie to keep petting Lois Lane while he talks to her father.

One Fine Day - Maine Coon cat Lois Lane in desk drawer being petted by Maggie Mae Whitman

While they are gone, Lois Lane discovers the fish in a bowl which was supposed to be returned to the school. Lois helps herself to a sushi lunch.

One Fine Day - Maine Coon cat Lois Lane on credenza with paw in fish bowl beside Maggie Mae Whitman

One Fine Day - Maine Coon cat Lois Lane on credenza licking paw beside fish bowl

Later Lois Lane runs out of the office and Maggie follows. Jack almost goes off without his daughter then frantically look for her. He finally finds Maggie under a desk with the cat.

One Fine Day - Maine Coon cat Lois Lane running out of office

One Fine Day - Maine Coon cat Lois Lane under desk with Maggie Mae Whitman

Later Maggie and Melanie’s son Sammy (Alex D. Linz) are under Melanie’s care. While in a toy store, Maggie finds and pets a tabby cat.

One Fine Day - Maggie Mae Whitman petting tabby cat on shelf

When the cat suddenly runs from the store Maggie follows. The cat ends up going to another store owned by a woman.

One Fine Day - store owner holding tabby cat

Melanie is desperate and goes to the police to report Maggie missing. Later the police call Jack, who goes to pick up his daughter from the store. He is in a hurry to make an important press conference, but Maggie wants to stay and play with the cat’s kittens.

One Fine Day - Maggie Mae Whitman being pulled away from tabby kittens by Jack George Clooney

Realizing he is upsetting his daughter by trying to pull her away, Jack asks her the names of the kittens. She picks up one and says his name is Bob because he looks like a bobcat. The second she introduces as Fred and the third she says she forgot the kitten’s name. This was apparently not scripted; Mae Whitman actually forgot the name of the third kitten but stayed in character so the director left it in the movie.

One Fine Day - Maggie Mae Whitman holding tabby kitten Bob with Jack George Clooney

Jack suggests taking the kitten home but his ex-wife is allergic so he says he will keep it at his place. He also promises his daughter she can visit him more often.

One Fine Day - Maggie Mae Whitman and Jack George Clooney with tabby kitten Bob

The store owner nods her consent.

One Fine Day - Egyptian artifact store owner holding tabby cat

Bob the kitten is present in the movie as the harried day continues. He is jostled around as the family runs from place to place. It should be noted that the young actress was instructed to hold the kitten by the scruff as to secure it more firmly while running and jumping around.

One Fine Day - Bob tabby kitten with Maggie Mae Whitman Jack George Clooney Melanie Michelle Pfeiffer and Sammy Alex D. Linz in cab

One Fine Day - Bob tabby kitten held by Jack George Clooney on steps with Maggie Mae Whitman and Sammy Alex D. Linz

One Fine Day - Bob tabby kitten running through construction site with Maggie Mae Whitman and Jack George Clooney

One Fine Day - Bob tabby kitten running down street with Maggie Mae Whitman Jack George Clooney Melanie Michelle Pfeiffer and Sammy Alex D. Linz

One Fine Day - Bob tabby kitten running through park with Maggie Mae Whitman Jack George Clooney Melanie Michelle Pfeiffer and Sammy Alex D. Linz

The two families finally reach the park where the kids are going to play soccer. During the course of the day Jack and Melanie have been building affection for each other.

One Fine Day - Bob tabby kitten held by Jack George Clooney with Melanie Michelle Pfeiffer

Jack eyes Melanie lovingly during the soccer game.

One Fine Day - Bob tabby kitten held by Jack George Clooney in park

One Fine Day - Bob tabby kitten meowing in arms of Jack George Clooney in park

At home that evening Jack is putting Maggie to bed. He picks up Bob and sets him in a box. After this Jack suddenly rushes Maggie out of the house to buy fish to take to Melanie. They end up spending the night there, leaving poor Bob all alone.

One Fine Day - Bob tabby kitten with Maggie Mae Whitman and Jack George Clooney