Saturday, March 14, 2009

The Cat From Outer Space (1978)

The Kitty From Disney Space, 15 September 2008


*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I remember loving this movie when I was a young lad. I mean it had a 'Cat from Outer Space'. A guy got beer spit into his face. The main character, what's his name (Ken Berry), was your typical Disney Nerd who did all types of wacky things that a kid of around 7 would find funny. He didn't even need to get hit in the nuts to make kids laugh. If it was remade today that would happen I'm sure. Looking at this movie 30 years later, it is still an amusing and entertaining Disney comedy, although perhaps not as fun as when as when I was young, as I have matured as a film viewer. But still there is some magic in this film.

The sci-fi concept is interesting. Cats have developed their brains to the capacity that they can move and manipulate the world around them. Man in his primitive state has to use boring old tools. My roommate laughed as the little kitty walked out of the spaceship. You don't expect a cat to come from a UFO, so that is funny. And there are occasional interesting yucks throughout the picture. What could have been a 5 minute skit on Saturday Night Live was stretched to 98 minutes of wholesome family fun. This won't make the AFI 100 laughs list, but its still a film to watch with a smile.

The film isn't without its problems. Too many people are to willing to believe without any form of skepticism that a cat from another planet needs to fix his spaceship. The big chase scene at the end isn't great but isn't enough to get it mocked on Mystery Science Theater.

But on the plus side, the film also shows how sometimes to help others out, you must sacrifice your own dreams and desires. The sacrifice made by one of the characters in this film is quite profound for a silly little Disney comedy, but raises it above your average Disney comedy. Extra added reasons the film is fun is because of MASH's Harry Morgan, actress Sandy Duncan and Planet of the Apes chimpenzee Roddy McDowell.

This would be worth having in your video library (if you're a person who does that sort of thing) simply because it is family friendly film that you could show your kids without being embarrassed. It's more entertaining then Disney's 'Moon Pilot' and is worth checking out for a care free night of lite comedic sci-fi fun.

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