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`CATS DON'T DANCE' REVELS IN THE PURR-FECT PREMISE.


Byline: Chris Hewitt Chris Hewitt is a sound engineer, manager and entrepreneur best known for his contributions to the British music industry, particularly in the North West of England , specifically Rochdale, and in particular his close association with the cult rock band Tractor.  Knight-Ridder Tribune News Wire

``Cats Don't Dance'' has a title that seems to be making fun of Andrew Lloyd Webber Noun 1. Andrew Lloyd Webber - English composer of many successful musicals (some in collaboration with Sir Tim Rice) (born in 1948)
Baron Lloyd Webber of Sydmonton, Lloyd Webber
, so it goes without saying that you enter the theater ready to like it. The surprise is, you leave feeling the same way.

Clever, tuneful and fast-paced, it's the best conventionally animated movie since ``The Lion King'' (``Toy Story'' and ``James and the Giant Peach'' were better, but both used unconventional techniques). Set in 1930s Hollywood, ``Cats Don't Dance'' features a talented batch of singing and dancing animals who keep losing out on all the best movie parts. So they put on a show to convince the moguls they have as much star power as humans.

``Cats Don't Dance'' is one of those children's movies that works just as well for adults (maybe better). It's set in a - and I apologize in advance for using this word - milieu we recognize from countless backstage musicals, and the occasionally spotty animation picks up the theme with blue-gray skylines and gorgeously deserted bus stations that recall the work of Edward Hopper Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967) was an American painter and printmaker. His works represented light as it is reflected off of familiar objects. While most popularly known for his oil paintings, he was equally proficient as a watercolorist and printmaker in .

You could interpret the overlooked animals as a metaphor for Hollywood racism, but you don't have to. The accent is on smart-alecky jokes and witty, animated cameos by folks such as Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. Best of all, the biting-the-Hollywood-hand-that-feeds-it script has an inspired villain: a monstrous child star named Darla Dimples. In her movies, she's a little angel, but in real life, she's Shirley Temple of Doom.

Whether she's doing lunch with a cat singer while gnawing off the heads of kitty animal crackers Animal crackers are a popular children's snack, in which the crackers are shaped like zoo animals.

Animal Crackers may also refer to:
  • Animal Crackers (theatre)'', the 1928 Broadway play by George S.
 or singing her theme song, ``Big and Loud,'' this pint-sized Ethel Merman Noun 1. Ethel Merman - United States singer who appeared in several musical comedies (1909-1984)
Merman
 is petty, mean and vicious. I couldn't have loved her more.

THE FACTS

The film: ``Cats Don't Dance'' (G).

The stars: The voices of Scott Bakula, Kathy Najimy and Jasmine Guy.

Behind the scenes: Directed by Mark Dindal. Songs by Randy Newman. Screenplay by Roberts Gannaway, Cliff Ruby, Elana Lesser and Theresa Pettengill. Released by Warner Bros BROS Brothers
BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington)
BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) 
.

Running time: One hour, nine minutes.

Playing: Citywide.

Our rating: Three Stars.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: Woolie the elephant reveals his musical dreams to Danny the cat and Pudge Noun 1. pudge - a short fat person
endomorph - a heavy person with a soft and rounded body
 the penguin in ``Cats Don't Dance,'' an animated film about Hollywood animals who are losing out on the best movie parts.
COPYRIGHT 1997 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1997, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Article Details
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Title Annotation:L.A. LIFE
Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Article Type:Movie Review
Date:Mar 26, 1997
Words:386
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