Directed by: Sam Fell, Rob Stevenhagen

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

Synopsis: Based on the children’s book. A brave mouse named Despereaux (voiced by Matthew Broderick) worries the other mice because of his refusal to cower and scurry.

Cartoon Cat: A teacher shares his concerns with Despereaux’s parents, showing them a drawing of a cat their son made. “He named it Fluffy,” the teacher adds.

Because of his unique ways, Desperaux is sent to the dungeon where the rats live and he becomes their prisoner. In Roman Coliseum style they throw him into a ring where they unleash a haggard-looking orange cat. The cat is on a strong chain which the rats can lengthen or shorten.

At first the cat seems more interested in scratching a post and purring.

A rat throws a ball of yarn and hits the cat on the head, causing him to turn on Despereaux.

The rats hold the chain back, making sure Despereaux is just out of range of the cat’s claws.

Finally a rat named Roscuro (voiced by Dustin Hoffman) can’t stand the close calls and begs his master Boticelli (voiced by Ciarán Hinds) to give him Despereaux, promising he will eat the mouse. In fact they become friends.

Later in the film the rats kidnap Princess Pea (Emma Watson) and place her in the arena where they gather to eat her. In order to save the Princess, Despereaux releases the cat who attacks the rats. Boticelli gets hold of Despereaux and threatens to throw him to the cat.

Roscuro manages to shine light on Boticelli and he falls into the arena. The cat advances on him, chasing him into the enclosure which Princess Pea closes with her foot. Sadly we never see if the cat, who was obviously also a prisoner of the rats, is ever released.

Final Mewsings: Nobody thanked the cat for helping out!

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