Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Starring: Danny Aiello, Anthony LaPaglia
Also Starring: Onyx, Coal
Directed by: George Gallo
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!
Synopsis: Frank Pesce, Jr. (Anthony LaPaglia) is born cursed with good luck which often works against him, especially when it comes to his proud father (Danny Aiello).
Featured Feline: One of the things Frank Sr. is most proud of is his small patch of bluegrass lawn in front of the family’s home in Queens. So in one scene when he sees the family’s black cat, Vinnie, on the lawn he yells at the animal, scaring him away.
Vinnie is seen several times in the film, such as one scene in which Frank Jr. wakes up and carries the cat into the kitchen with him, telling his father to “Say good morning to Vinnie!”
Vinnie is in the background of the kitchen throughout the scene.
Frank Sr. decides he is going to learn to make pizza and Frank Jr. flatly rejects the first attempt. Frank Jr.’s voiceover explains how Vinnie is the only family member who enjoys his father’s cooking, and the pizza is seen outside in the garbage with Vinnie is eating it.
Later in the film Frank Sr. wakes up Frank Jr. with another pizza attempt. Vinnie is lying in the bed with Frank Jr. but jumps out of bed quickly.
A shot of Vinnie is also included in the final scene which is reminiscent of the finale of It’s a Wonderful Life with the family and friends gathered on Christmas night for a happy outcome.
Vinnie was played by cat actor Onyx and his stunt double was named Coal, both of whom were given screen credit at the end of the movie.
Final Mewsings: There’s only so much bad pizza a cat can take!
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