Paramount Pictures
Starring: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger
Directed by: Mark Waters

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

Synopsis: The Grace family moves into the dilapidated mansion belonging to a relative where the children soon discover a secret world surrounds them.

Kitty Cameo: The children consist of an older sister named Mallory (Sarah Bolger) and two twin boys, Jared and Simon (both played by Freddie Highmore). Simon owns an orange tabby cat named Mr. Tibbs. The cat is first seen when the mother and Simon enter the house with Simon carrying the cat and assuring him that it’s okay.

Jared soon discovers a secret room with a book belonging to the former resident named Spiderwick. After a scare, Jared rushes into his bedroom and awakens his brother. Mr. Tibbs is sleeping on the bed and doesn’t move at all. It would appear a stuffed cat was used during these scenes.

This theory plays out when the boys later hear their sister screaming and Simon sits upright in bed suddenly yet Mr. Tibbs still doesn’t move!

Later Jared and his sister are fighting and come down the stairs. Simon is holding Mr. Tibbs and they both looks up.

As the plot progresses and things become difficult, Jared learns some distressing news. As he does, his sister and brother stand by sympathetically. Simon picks up Mr. Tibbs from the table.

Knowing that they have to locate Spiderwick, Jared notices Mr. Tibbs and it gives him an idea.

Oddly enough in the close up shot Mr. Tibbs has a very distinguishing brown mark on his nose, but in other scenes with the cat this mark is not there. Mr. Tibbs is not seen again throughout the film.

Final Mewsings: Cat actors appreciate good continuity.

Many thanks to Nick Wale for letting us know about the cat in this film!

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