How CATS Provided an Escape in Lockdown
The COVID-19 lockdown forced many to reanalyse their relationships to nearly every piece of their lives – including the media they consume. With a real-life dystopian horror playing out across the outside world, many found themselves seeking out comfort from their media. After a handful of months revising the magical worlds of Studio Ghibli and the comedically complex lore of the Saw franchise, randomly, Tom Hooper's 2019 musical Cats found its way onto the watchlist. Despite watching Cats twice in theaters, the feature failed to impress or charm me past a handful of catchy songs on those viewings. Revisiting the project months later, the experience of watching Cats was truly shocking. What was once boring and cringy was now a pure experience of camp and enjoyment that honestly became one of the highlights of lockdown. The question that needs to be asked, however, is why?
In the exploration of this question, it first feels vital to understand what the purpose of Cats is. Released during the height of the 2019-2020 awards season, it is easy to understand why Cats felt so out of place. The very same week Cats was released was the same week of Jay Roach's devastating Bombshell, Greta Gerwig's new rendition of the charming classic Little Women, and the long-awaited sci-fi epic Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This came after not just months of strong releases from nearly every genre, but also a strong decade from Hooper that saw him receive three back to back Best Picture nominations. This expectation and lens are immediately unfair and damning to Cats, as the film was never meant to be on the level of any of those projects.
Going back to the stage production by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats always worked – not because of any deep emotions or plot, but rather its dumb escapist fun. On stage, the main charm came from seeing actors squeeze themselves into skin-tight cat costumes and dance around in strange yet provocative ways. While this wasn't quite able to be recreated with the use of visual effects, it does come close at times.
Especially on the big screen, it is traditionally expected for a film to have more than this to offer. This is where many find themselves bothered by Cats as it feels rather hollow compared to the average release especially at the time it was released in. The film has no real twists or captivating narratives but instead is a wandering talent show of cats introducing themselves, hoping to be chosen to go to the Heaviside layer. Especially in theaters where sadly most screenings had audience members trying to take the film seriously and follow along as they would with projects like Hooper's previous musical adaptation Les Miserables, the fun required to really engage with the film's world and characters simply wasn't allowed. Similar to The Room and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the film wants a certain level of understanding and energy from the crowd with most of the problems plot-wise fading away when watching the project with the right understanding.
While, naturally, at home this relationship is easier to have, it was clear that something more was going on when it came to the comfort felt from the project. The songs are charming and memorable, but lockdown ended up giving the perfect series of emotions and desires to allow the often overlooked and weaker thematic weight of Cats to appear in a way only seen once in a blue moon. Cats ultimately is a celebration of community. As the audience bounces between cats, the camaraderie between them as they all make their way to Jellicle Ball and celebrate one another is undeniable. In a time of isolation, this held a unique power and emotional weight. Cats also excels at finding the magic in an everyday space. Taking place on the alleyways of London, those trapped in cities during lockdown could escape into a magical world all around them. From the local milk bar to the railways, the world of Cats isn't fantasy but it is magical. While during any other year this might feel standard and uninspired, during lockdown this was what many needed from cinema.
Cats might not be a largely serious film but its heart blended with camp provided an enjoyable yet meaningful final product. While one might not have been able to visit their friends across town, one could throw on Cats and witness the magic of Mr. Mistoffelees, the swagger of Rum Tum Tugger, the mischief of Mungojerrie and the hunger of Bustopher Jones. Brought to life by some of the catchiest songs ever written, even with lockdown restrictions lifting, Cats is a film that deserves to be evaluated with its purpose in mind. It is a film meant to entertain audiences and let them escape their lives and struggles for a whole 110-minutes. Even if you hated the film when it was first released, take a trip to the streets of London and spend an evening with the Jellicle Cats. At the very worst, at least you will have "Mr. Mistoffelees" stuck in your head for the following week.
