Lionsgate
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Willow Shields
Directed by: Francis Lawrence

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

Synopsis: Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is encouraged by the leaders of District 13 to help lead the rebellion against the Capitol, but her concern for Peeta’s (Josh Hutcherson) welfare makes her reluctant to participate.

Featured Feline: Buttercup, Primrose Everdeen’s (Willow Shields) mangy-looking orange cat is finally featured in a more interactive way in this installment.  Katniss returns to the now-destroyed District 12 to see first hand the destruction caused by the Capitol.  As she walks around her home in the Victors’ Village, gathering a few personal belongings, a noise startles her.  It is Buttercup, climbing in through the window.  She looks at the cat with frustration and sighs, “Figures.”

Katniss grabs Buttercup and shoves him into her bag so she can take him back to Primrose, much to Buttercup’s consternation.

In District 13 Katniss reunites Primrose with Buttercup and tells her to keep the cat a secret, since pets aren’t allowed there.  When Katniss makes her demands of the rebel alliance to participate in their propaganda films she adds that the final provision is that Prim can keep her cat.

Later in the film the Capitol bombs District 13, prompting the rebels to head to the underground bunkers.  Katniss finds that Prim is not there and realizes her sister has gone back for Buttercup.  There’s a tense race against time as Katniss urges Primrose, who is now running down the stairs with Buttercup in her arms with Gale (Liam Hemsworth) guiding her, to hurry.  They make it into the bunkers just before the doors close.

Finally there is a brief moment of comic relief in the bunkers when Katniss is actually playing with Buttercup by shining her flashlight on the floor and surrounding cases.  Buttercup is playfully chasing the light.

Final Mewsings: Cats should always be included in evacuation plans!

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