NINE LIVES (2016)

Genre: Comedy
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Garner, Mark Consuelos, Cheryl Hines, Robbie Amell, Malina Weissman, Talitha Bateman, Christopher Walken
Runtime: 1 hr 27 mins
Rating: PG
Released By: Cathay-Keris Films 
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 5 August 2016

Synopsis: Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) is a daredevil billionaire at the top of his game. His eponymous company FireBrand is nearing completion on its greatest achievement to date - the tallest skyscraper in the northern hemisphere. But Tom's workaholic lifestyle has disconnected him from his family, particularly his beautiful wife Lara (Jennifer Garner) and his adoring daughter Rebecca (Malina Weissman). Rebecca's 11th birthday is here, and she wants the gift she wants every year, a cat. Tom hates cats, but he is without a gift and time is running out. His GPS directs him to a mystical pet store brimming with odd and exotic cats- where the store's eccentric owner- Felix Perkins (Christopher Walken), presents him with a majestic tomcat, named Mr. Fuzzypants. En route to his daughter's party, Tom has a terrible accident. When he regains consciousness he discovers that somehow, he has become trapped inside the body of the cat. Adopted by his own family, he begins to experience what life is truly like.

Movie Review:

Kevin Spacey and Christopher Walken – put these two veterans together in the same movie and there is a possibility that audiences around this reviewer’s age will be inclined to look beyond the silly premise, just to see the two award winning actors acting opposite each other on the big screen. Obviously, this marketing ploy worked for this columist, so expect a lenient review for a movie which many others would deem as kitty litter.

Spacey (how can anyone not be impressed with his portrayal of Frank Underwood in hit TV series House of Cards?) plays Tom Brand, an unlikeable tycoon who is also an unlikeable husband and father. In a storybook twist of fate (so the bad can learn to be good), he meets with an accident and his soul gets transferred into a cat named, ahem, Mr Fuzzypants. Watch how the man trapped in a kitty save a business from corrupt corporate villains. And oh, the bigger picture is how the he will win back his family’s love. Somewhere in the mix, there is a cat whisperer played by Walken, a pretty wife played by Jennifer Garner and a vivacious ex wife played by Cheryl Hines.

Say what you will about this movie is an attempt to lure kitty lovers (and err, fans of Spacey and Walken) into the theatres to milk some quick bucks. Sure, there is nothing particularly imaginative here (talking cats in this day and age, really?), but the movie doesn’t pretend to be smart – it is extremely easy to watch with its 87 minute runtime, and the countless number of harmless humour is easy to digest. If you’re going to enter the cinema feeling all pissed about not being able to get tickets to Suicide Squad (or any other blockbuster type of movies), we are guessing you won’t be too amused with any of the jokes – yup, you would better off sipping coffee at a nearby café.

One mystery this writer probably can’t solve is how a story like this requires not one, not two, not three, but five writers. Gwyn Lurie, Matt R Allen, Caleb Wilson, Daniel Antoniazzi and Ben Shiffrin are credited – were there eight other drafts before this over simplified version was approved by the bosses? Barry Sonnenfeld, best known for his directorial work on the Men in Black series, probably isn’t going to get much praise for his efforts to helm a family friendly flick here, but like the stars who agreed to be part of this project, he is likely to move on after cashing the pay check.

So how do Spacey and Walken fare, since most people would be paying to see these legends on the big screen? Let’s just say the two actors probably did not spend much effort to play their characters. Spacey may have spent a day filming, and another day recording his lines for Mr Fuzzypants. Walken aptly takes on the role of the creepy old man. Would this reviewer becomes self righteous and condemn these two highly regarded stars for being involved in a lazy comedy? Nope, that’s how the commercial world works, if you haven’t already realised.

Is this the worst comedy featuring talking animals you’ll see? Probably not – remember 2004’s Garfield: The Movie (Bill Murray was involved in that one), an unnecessary sequel in the form of 2006’s Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties and 2008’s Beverly HillsChihuahua(it’s got not one, but two sequels). This just proves that there is still a market for such genres, and there are stars who are willing to lend their star powers to such titles. 

Movie Rating:

(Avoid this if you aren’t a fan of cute talking animals. Otherwise, you may be mildly amused if you’re a fan of Kevin Spacey or Christopher Walken.)

Review by John Li