Cat Run (2011): Through the Eyes of Cat

Number Rolled: N/A

Movie Name/Year: Cat Run (2011)

Tagline: CATch her if you can.

Genre: Independent

Length: 105 minutes

Rating: R

Production Companies: Lleju Productions , Universal Studios (Distribution only)

Executive Producer: Ram Bergman, Derrick Borte, Peter Principato, Max Winkler, Paul Young

Director: John Stockwell

Writer: Nick Ball, John Niven

Actors: Paz Vega, Janet McTeer, Alphonso McAuley, Scott Mechlowicz, Christopher McDonald, Karel Roden, D.L. Hughley, Tony Curran, Michelle Lombardo, Radik Golovkov, Branko Djuric, Gordan Kicic, Jelena Gavrilovic, Albert Perez, Caleb Vela Poquet, Heather Chasen, Michael Sopko, Vanja Govorko, Jovan Krstic, Jean-Christophe Bouvet, Milorad Kapor

 Anthony has done his best to distance himself from his family. He even moved out of the U.S. and opened a restaurant on another continent. Business wound up kind of sucking and when his best friend finds him and gives him the idea to start a detective agency he folds. Their first case, though, takes them further into danger than they ever expected. 

Cat’s Point of View:

I feel I must begin with an assurance to you that the fact my name is in the title of the movie did not influence my opinion of its content. I promise! I did get a kick out of it, though. (Trivia: Catalina is also the Spanish version of my name.)

For our regular readers, this is a bit of a blast from the past. Selina already viewed this movie and provided you her take on it approximately a year ago. I hadn’t seen this one before, however. 

With our fearless lead blogger out on an adventure of a lifetime, we wanted to revisit a title or so to give readers a different perspective, potentially, on some of the films she’s already reviewed.  This reminds me of a popular meme. 

Okay! Here we go.

I won’t keep you in suspense. I really enjoyed this movie. Apparently critics don’t like films about call girls targeted by assassins to cover up politicians’ bad behavior – but hey, to each their own, right?

This movie has so much  more to offer than flagrant sex.

You’ve got to look past all the nudity, really, because that’s setting. It’s not there to be gratuitous. Even the rather surprising bit towards the end has a purpose (and a very clever and seemingly random seed for hilarity sewn earlier in the film sets that up, as well).

These characters are compelling (even if what they sometimes compel you to do is smack your palm to your forehead – I’m looking at you, Julian).

I really felt Cat’s drive for survival and appreciated her intelligence and quick-thinking in the face of something that was out of her depth. Paz Vega (Demon Inside, Grace of Monaco, Kill the Messenger) did an amazing job running the emotional gauntlet with her.

Anthony, played by Scott Mechlowicz (Peaceful Warrior, Eden, Demonic), had so many layers that made him interesting. He had a mysterious past he was avoiding, he was a restaurateur, and he had a mind like a steel trap. His powers of observation were rather impressive. I wanted to learn so much more about him – and yet the pacing of the film didn’t give much room for that – and that was ok.

I felt that they played a little to stereotypes with his friend Julian. Yet, Alphonso McAuley (Fat Albert, Glory Road, Nim's Island) brings such fun and depth to that character. Most of the descriptions I’ve seen for this film mention ‘bumbling private detectives.’ Julian puts the “bumble” in the “bumbling.”

There were some other well known faces in this movie; from D.L. Hughley (Soul Plane, Cloud 9, Spy School), to Christopher McDonald (Kickin' it Old Skool, Awake, Fanboys), and Tony Curran (Ondine, The Presence, The Adventures of Tintin).

I must touch on Janet McTeer (Tideland, The Woman in Black, Insurgent), though. She was phenomenal as the former MI-6 agent turned ruthless assassin-for-hire. She certainly ups the violence quotient in the film, yet you also get to see an entirely different side to her before the movie’s over.

Overall, I think this film is hilarious and smart – though, not for the squeamish.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 14%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 33%

Netflix’s Prediction for Cat – 3.5/5

Cat’s Trust-the-Dice Score – 4/5

Movie Trailer: