Nine Lives (2016)

Nine Lives poster

EuropaCorp
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Walken
Also Starring: Jean, Philmon, Connery, Roxie and Yuri
Directed by: Barry Sonnenfeld

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

Synopsis: Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) is an insanely successful business man who has been neglecting his family for work but learns his lesson when a freak accident puts his mind inside the body of a cat.

Cinema Cat: The cats don’t come into the film until Tom goes searching for his daughter’s birthday present. She wants a cat but Tom does not like cats. Nevertheless he ends up (via mysterious interference) at a shop called Purrkins Pet Shop where a large cat jumps on the hood of his car.

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants on car

The shop is owned by a man named Felix Perkins (Christopher Walken) who hooks Tom up with a gray and white Norwegian Forest cat with blue eyes (as Perkins explains the cat picks the owner, not the other way around). In grabbing a bowl for the cat, Tom randomly selects one marked Mr. Fuzzypants.

Nine Lives - Felix Perkins Christopher Walken and Tom Brand Kevin Spacey with Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants

A freak accident puts Tom into a coma but he awakens in the body of the cat.

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants looking at paw

Realizing that the cat was the present Tom had picked out, his wife Lara (Jennifer Garner) gives him to their daughter Rebecca (Malina Weissman).

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants with Rebecca Malina Weissman

Failing to make his family realize he is now the cat, Tom acts out (by getting drunk, peeing on the rug, pooping in a purse and eating Fruity Pebbles, not to mention countless other shenanigans which cause him to bang into and fall off things.)

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants pooping in purse

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants on floor

Perkins is brought in and explains that Tom must behave and reconnect with his family.

Nine Lives - Perkins Christopher Walken talking to Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants on car

Tom supports his daughter, who begins to suspect Mr. Fuzzypants is actually her father.

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants comforting Rebecca Malina Weissman

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants dancing with Rebecca

There is also Tom’s older son David (Robbie Amell) who is trying to keep the Fire Brand company from being taken over by unscrupulous vultures. Tom learns to have respect for David even when Tom violently returns to his body.

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants with David Robbie Amell

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants falling

In the end Tom takes Rebecca to get another cat and Perkins surprises them with Mr. Fuzzypants, who is now on his ninth life.

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants being held by Perkins Christopher Walken

David Allsbury acted as Head Cat Trainer on the film. The cat actors who played the lead role of Mr. Fuzzypants were Jean (who did a majority of the sitting and contemplative parts), Philmon, Connery (who was the main action cat), Roxie and Yuri.

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants closeup

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants looking sad

While this film seems to be aimed strictly at kids and the cat action is at times overexaggerated and juvenile, the filming of the cat actors is done well and the cat stars do have a chance to shine despite the goofy goings-on. Some have complained about the slapstick involving the cat but it should be noted that a majority of the film, including the cat acrobatics, was done using computer generated imagery. They also fortunately did not try to animate Mr. Fuzzypants talking out loud.

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants trying to write with pen

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants scared of reflection on trash can

Nine Lives - Norwegian Forest Cat Mr. Fuzzypants hanging from bar

Kitty Cameos: Special guest appearances are made by several famous internet cats who show up in the Purrkins Pet Shop, including Lil Bub, Nala, Waffles, Pudge, Hamilton and Henri, not to mention animated favorite Talking Tom.

Nine Lives - Lil Bub in cage