Cats (2021 film)

Cats, stylized as CATS, is an animated film based on Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of the same name, which itself is based on T.S Elliot's poetry book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". The film was released on March 20, 2021.

Synopsis
The leader a tribe of cats must choose which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn.

Plot
After the opening credits ("Overture"), a car drives past a junkyard, which upon further inspection is much bigger than first thought. One by one, cats crawl out of their hiding places, and begin to sing praises of their tribe, the Jellicles. Two of the cats, Skimbleshanks and Munkustrap notice some one watching them with a look of shock, which just so happens to be the viewer(s). The Jellicles are dumbfounded by the thought that someone who doesn't know what they are ("Jellicle Songs For Jellicle Cats"). The cats then explain how each cat has 3 different names. A name from their owner, a name from themself, and a secret name ("The Naming of Cats"). Afterwards, the white queen, Victoria, showcases her dancing skills. She's a little shy, as she's a kitten growing into adulthood, but the other Jellicles find her stunning nonetheless ("Victoria (The White Cat Solo)"). Quaxo, a tuxedo cat, slides into the scene (quite literally), and invites everyone (including you) to the Jellicle Ball, an occasion on which the Jellicle Leader, Old Deuteronomy, will appear and decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer ("Invitation"). Munkustrap, a grey tabby cat and the son of the Jellicle Leader, introduces the first candidate for the Heaviside Layer, Jennyanydots (with the help of Demeter, Bombalurina, and Jellylorum). Jenny prefers to sleep all day, but when her family is asleep, she teaches the roaches of the house several activities, that will possibly stop their strange behaviors ("The Old Gumbie Cat"). The mood quickly changes to an Elvis concert as Munkustrap's younger brother, the Rum Tum Tugger arrives and sings about..well, himself ("The Rum Tum Tugger"). Tugger's party is crashed by a cat by the name of Grizabella, an old, weary, and outcasted cat. The adults never allow the small, curious kittens to interact with her. All Grizabella wants is to be accepted by the Jellicles again ("Grizabella: The Glamour Cat"). A fat and wealthy cat named Bustopher Jones arrives (introduced by Jellylorum, Jennyanydots, and Bombalurina) who just got back from one of his favorite clubs. He talks to the cats about his choices of foods and clubs ("Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town"). Suddenly, there is loud crash and Demeter screams "MACAVITY!", causing everyone to scatter. The film pauses for a moment to give some information on Macavity ("Macavity Interlude: Part One"), a voice introduces a black cat named Mr. Mistoffelees, and the source of the crash is revealed to be Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, two young twin cats who steal from people in their neighborhood who somehow never get caught. Thankfully, the Jellicles catch them and make them retreat before anything else happens ("Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer"). The psychic twins Tantomile and Coricopat predict the arrival of the Jellicle Leader (and the father of Tugger and Munkustrap), Old Deuteronomy. Everyone is very excited to greet him and see him as Munkustrap and Tugger sing about their father. The former announces that the Jellicle festivities can begin now that Old Deuteronomy has arrived ("Old Deuteronomy"). Suddenly, there is another loud crash and, whoever Macavity is, returns. Everyone scurries away except Munkustrap and Old Deuteronomy. The film pauses yet again to tell more about Macavity ("Macavity Interlude: Part Two"). When everyone steps out of their hiding places, the Jellicle Ball officially begins. Everyone is dancing and singing and celebrating, and Victoria officially "grows up" and does the pas de deux (or mating dance) with Quaxo. But Grizabella appears yet again. The cats who sense her (Quaxo, Coricopat, & Tantomile) chase her away, while the rest of the cats bring out the big guns and showcase even more spectacular moves ("The Jellicle Ball"). Grizabella appears once more and Sillabub, the youngest kitten in the entire tribe, tries to convince Jellylorum that Grizabella just needs someone to help her, to no avail ("Grizabella: The Glamour Cat (Reprise)"). After everyone (excluding Old Deuteronomy) leaves, Grizabella tries to recreate the magic of the ball, but her bad condition keeps her from doing so. With no one else around she begins to sing ("Memory (Prelude)"). Old Deuteronomy sits on his throne of trash and contemplates what happiness is (referring to Grizabella) but no one understands what he means ("The Moments of Happiness"). Coricopat and Tantomile sense that Sillabub understands Old Deuteronomy's message and telepathically asks her to sing the message in simpler terms, to which Sillabub obliges ("Moonlight"). Jellylorum, a golden tabby, introduces Gus, an older cat who sued to be a theatre actor. He and Jellylorum sing about his fame many years ago. Gus recalls playing Fireforefiddle: The Fiend of the Fell, understudying Dick Whittington's cat, acting alongside Henry Irving and Herbert Beerbohm Tree, etc. Old Deuteronomy convinces Gus to act as the Rumpus Cat again and relive his glory days; Gus agrees ("Gus: The Theatre Cat"). The play is called "The Awefull Battle of the Pekes & the Pollicles", which tells the story of two dog tribes about to fight. The battle is stopped by the legendary Rumpus Cat. The play goes moderately well and Gus has the time of his life ("The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles"). The cats then introduce Skimbleshanks the cat who "runs" the train from London to Glasgow. While recounting his life as the "Railway Cat", he asks the cats to help build a train out of trash. When the train is finished and Skimble is ready to show their work to Old Deuteronomy, it falls apart because the cats lose coordination. With a shrug and a laugh, Skimble's song continues ("Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat"). The fun is interrupted by Macavity yet again, who rather than suspected to be there, actually appears.