Sorry if the Tom & Jerry hybrid live action / animation film directed by Tim Story does not meet your expectations. The Coen Brothers were not available. But what the film lacks in class is more than made up for by a breakneck pace, arguments that surpass anything you’ve seen in Godzilla versus Kong, and a surprise Bollywood-themed wedding.
Using the same cinematic style as Robert Zemeckis’ Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Tom & Jerry make an ideal layup for Space Jam: A New Legacy this summer – another film aimed less at kids than at their millennial parents.
Watch the Tom & Jerry trailer here
Which is perhaps one of Tom & Jerry’s bigger problems. It doesn’t have a clear audience in mind. Kids, for example, will likely have no idea who these characters are since they grew up with Tik-Tok and Frozen. And it might be too youthful for everyone else.
Gone are some of the most controversial aspects of cartoons – the sadistic spirit, the mind-boggling violence, and the occasional racism. This is a Tom & Jerry movie that not only reboots the franchise, but also undermines the essence of these characters by suggesting that a truce might be the best way to go.
It would be a bit difficult to draw parallels between Tom & Jerry and the Israel-Palestine conflict – not that any other cartoon hasn’t done this before, * cough * sausage party * cough * – but there are some pretty funny jokes Adults will appreciate it here. Take Jerry’s introductory scene, for example. We see him being brought around town by a sketchy real estate agent looking for a house. two rats making claims on abandoned cars and crevices under public property – perhaps a nod to the vermin problem in New York City.
Meanwhile, Tom runs a grift in Central Park pretending to be a blind pianist. Their paths collide and as they say it comes to exhilaration.
Elephants wreak havoc in Tom & Jerry.
How radical it would have been to limit the film to just cat-and-mouse gimmicks, but sadly, director Tim Story populated it with a selection of slightly interesting people, led by Chloe Grace Moretz ‘cheater Kayla. The movie would prefer you to think of her as a “street smart maker”, but don’t fall for it. Kayla is a mean.
After sneaking into an event management job at a fancy five-star hotel, she learns that a weekend wedding with Indian royalty may be in jeopardy due to Jerry moving into one of the guest rooms. So she hires an unlucky tom to track him down. The film moves from set-piece to set-piece, with the occasional pop of talented comedic actors like Michael Pena, Rob Delaney, and Ken Jeong. You don’t have much to do other than show up and collect a paycheck.
Also Read: Godzilla vs Kong Movie Review: A Lizard and a Monkey Can Do What Christopher Nolan Couldn’t
Again, Roger Deakins had to retire as the Coen Brothers calendars were too full to do so. Which means Tom & Jerry won’t be ready for the Cinematography Oscar this year. Despite some impressive visual effects, it’s unforgivably flat to look at; A sensation compounded by Tim Story’s inability to hide the fact that virtually the entire film, including the climatic Bollywood wedding sequence, was shot on a poorly lit stage.
With no traditional film tools to set the tone, he relies on relentless pop culture references, pop songs, and product placements that betray the capitalist soul of this company. But all of this is very easy to ignore, especially for children who have developed an appetite for movies like this one. It’s also very easy to digest – whether or not it does permanent damage to your inner being is a different matter.
Tom Jerry
director – Tim Story
occupation – Chloe Grace Moretz, Michael Pena, Rob Delaney, Ken Jeong, Colin Jost and Pallavi Sharda
(Tom & Jerry is available on the BookMyShow stream)
consequences @htshowbiz for more
The author tweets @ RohanNaahar
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