by Jake Bourgeois
Warner Bros.’ latest dual release on HBO Max and in theaters sees a classic cartoon duo on the big screen as they head to the Big Apple in the latest incarnation of the Hanna Barbera classic, Tom & Jerry. While not necessarily at the top of my classic cartoon power rankings, I have fond memories of catching episodes of Tom & Jerry as a kid and decided to give this one a spin.
This movie is putting its best foot forward when it’s being the cartoon we all remember. Despite being around since the 40s, the cat and mouse game played by our titular pair still has the power to entertain. Their hijinks still put a smile on my face. Another thing this film has going for it over other classic cartoon adaptions is our cartoon couple don’t talk, so you’re not distracted if they don’t get the updated voice casting just right. I was never more entertained than when Tom was chasing Jerry, which, unfortunately, was not very often. When they’re not the focus on screen, to say you miss them would be an understatement.
Unfortunately, the pair aren’t even the main characters in their own film. That goes to Kayla (Chloë Grace Moretz). Even in a reality where people accept the existence of cartoons and the shenanigans they get into, her character getting a temporary job at a swanky hotel to help with the glamourous wedding of a New York power couple, is somehow the least believable part of the film.
Moretz is joined by the likes of Michael Peña, Ken Jeong, and Colin Jost as our notable human cast of this film, none of whom give good performances here. However, I can’t really put too much of the blame on them. The script is atrocious—another reason Tom and Jerry can consider themselves lucky they don’t have speaking parts—full of every tired cliché in the book. And, remember how I said Tom and Jerry were lucky they don’t talk? There is one small scene with an auto-tuned singing Tom, which probably would have been improved if he’d just meowed the whole thing. The animated characters that do talk are more distracting than anything.
The performances aren’t helped by the fact that the film is a hybrid of live action and animation. Getting a good reaction can be tricky when you’re acting against something that obviously isn’t there, and this film doesn’t manage to pull it off.
This brings me to my soapbox moment. Name for me a film that’s not 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit? that works successfully for a full film merging live action and animation. (Films with brief animated portions like Mary Poppins don’t count.) You can’t, can you? Animation-live action hybrids are like the quarterback position of my beloved Chicago Bears. There’s a reason every time the Bears have a game in prime time, they have to dust off the old footage of Sid Luckman from the 40s. Every quarterback since has been, let’s say, not great. Studios need to stop trying to make this happen and give up on this faulty premise. It’s distracting from the moment it’s introduced in the opening credits.
For those looking to entertain the kids and looking for something new, don’t get trapped by this film and its attempt to suck you in by baiting you with nostalgia.
Grade: D