Universal Pictures
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Michael Madsen, Jennifer Tilly
Directed by: Roger Donaldson
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: A remake of the 1972 Steve McQueen film. Doc McCoy (Alec Baldwin) and his wife Carol (Kim Bassinger) find themselves on the run when a large robbery goes awry.
Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): One can debate whether or not elements of this film in any way improved upon the original film but in one instance there was a definite improvement, and that is the casting of an adorable tabby kitten to play the part of Kitty. The kitten has such a screen presence that his (or her) part was expanded upon that of the original.
Kitty first appears when an injured Rudy (Michael Madsen) takes hostage a veterinarian named Harold Carvey (James Stephens) and his wife Fran (Jennifer Tilly). The kitten remains on Rudy’s chest during their first interactions.
The kitten is a real scene-stealer and even gets so comfortable that it falls asleep on Rudy’s chest near the end of the scene.
This time Kitty is also clearly visible in the scene in the car in which a food fight breaks out. Wisely the kitten jumps into the back of the station wagon when the chicken and fries start to fly.
The most notable scene in which the kitten is given more screen time is when Rudy and Fran are in a hotel room lying on a bed. Fran is feeding Kitty some food. They keep calling for Harold to come out of the bathroom.
When Harold doesn’t respond, Rudy picks up the kitten and carries it to the bathroom door.
Going into the bathroom, Rudy finds that Harold has hung himself. He walks past Harold, placing Kitty on the dead man’s chest to cling in midair.
The kitten eventually makes its way to the floor as Rudy calls to Fran that it is time for them to leave.
Kitty is only seen briefly after this, poking out of the cardboard box Rudy carries into the hotel in El Paso.
Cat Cattle Call: There are also numerous cats in cages in the Carvey’s veterinary office. The white cat with the calico markings on her head is a bit of scene stealer, too!
Final Mewsings: Cat actors know how to expand upon their limited roles.
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