Icon Entertainment International
Starring: Mel Gibson, Nick Stahl
Directed by: Mel Gibson

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

Synopsis: A boy named Chuck (Nick Stahl) seeks the tutoring of a former teacher and recluse named McLeod (Mel Gibson) who has been disfigured in an accident.

Featured Feline: Chuck lives with his mother and two step sisters.  He has a beautiful tortoiseshell cat named Mac which he sneaks into his room. The first time we see Mac he is lying on the bed beside the boy as Chuck reads a comic book.

When Chuck hears his mother coming, he quickly hides Mac under his bed.

Chuck continues to keep the cat even when the other members of the household disapprove. In one scene Mac is seen watching a Western on television as Chuck studies for an upcoming pop quiz.

Later in the film Chuck comes home one night to feed Mac, even though he plans to spend the night at his friend’s house.

Kitty Carnage Warning!  Chuck hears a noise upstairs and finds his sister Gloria (Fay Masterson) in bed with her boyfriend Douglas (Michael DeLuise). Douglas threatens Chuck, warning him not to tell. When Chuck laughs, Douglas pushes him against a wall. Suddenly Mac appears, jumping on Douglas’ back and scratching him.

Douglas throws Mac against a wall and the cat lands and runs away. The scene was shot in cuts and a fake cat was used in the violent parts. The real cat was merely dropped a couple of feet onto the actor’s back and near the wall.

Sadly Mac is not seen again in the film. Also while the canine actor playing McLeod’s dog Mickey received a screen credit the cat actor(s) playing Mac did not.

Final Mewsings: Cat heroes deserve more screen time and a credit!

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