NINE LIVES * (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating—4.2|5.0 Starsìììì

Nine Lives—a solid Kevin Spacey film—backs its storyline with the talents of Christopher Walken and Jennifer Garner. Watch for Robbie Amell and Mark Consuelos; they have good screen presence. The acting is well done; the portrayal is really well done, but the consciousness transfer from a human into an animal has been a little overdone, feels like old-hat, and gives the unsettling feeling that this is nothing more than a run-off of Disney’s 1959 Shaggy Dog (remade again in 1976, 1987, 1994, 2006) with nothing really new except an exchange of the dog with a cat to make us think it is a new story. However, despite that, it’s a good afternoon watch—a family friendly movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey) is a hard hitting, competitive business man, determined to be ‘first’ in all things including the height of buildings he constructs. But, the more competitive he gets, the more he alienates himself from being ‘first’ with his family. He buys a cat for his daughter’s, Rebecca Brand (Malina Weissman), birthday and in an accident finds his consciousness traded from his body to the inside of the cat’s body. The only way to extract himself is to make his family first priority and his business second priority.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Barry Sonnenfeld for his directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Mark Gao, Claude Léger, Eric Mathis, Gregory Ouanhon, Michele Petternella, and Jonathan Vanger for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Tom Brand (Kevin Spacey), Lara Brand (Jennifer Garner), David Brand (Robbie Amell), Madison Camden (Cheryl Hines), Ian Cox (Mark Consuelos), Felix Perkins (Christopher Walken), Nicole Camden (Talitha Bateman), Josh Myers (Teddy Sears), and Benson (Jay Patterson).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. However, due to the many movies made on this film's idea, the movie begs the question, ‘Are Hollywood writers running out of fresh ideas for stories?’

* Also known as: Mr. Fuzzypants

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers