Plot Summary: Beckett, a spoiled and selfish housecat, takes his nine lives for granted. After recklessly losing his final life, he is granted ten more, but with a catch.
Director: Chris Jenkins
Producers: Karen Wengrod, Ken Cinnamon, Ash Brannon, Ernesto Matamoros, Leland Cox
Screenplay: Chris Jenkins, Karen Wengrod, Ken Cinnamon
Starring:
Mo Gilligan as Beckett
Simone Ashley as Rose Ashley
Sophie Okonedo as Grace
Zayn Malik as Kirk and Cameron
Dylan Llewellyn as Larry Llewellyn
Jeremy Swift as Happy
Bill Nighy as Professor Richard Craven
***SPOILER ALERT***
Nine Lives Too Many
Saturday afternoon with 10 Lives, directed by Christopher Jenkins. Jenkins has been in animation since at least 1988, starting as an effects animator on Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Now he brings us this 2024 film about Beckett, a selfish cat who loses his last life and is about to be sent straight to hell. But surprise! Instead, he gets nine more chances to do something good. The catch? He won’t be a cat anymore. Each time he dies, he reincarnates as a different animal. At first, this was fun—watching him cycle through his lives kept me engaged for a while. But by life five or so, I started checking the time. The movie just doesn’t have enough charm or originality to keep things fresh.
Not-So-Purrfect Storytelling
The plot isn’t a total mess, but it lacks something to make it stand out. It’s not particularly clever, nor does it tug at the heartstrings in any meaningful way. Beckett himself is saved by Mo Gilligan’s voice acting, which adds some much-needed personality, but the rest of the characters? Forgettable. It all feels like a knockoff Pixar movie, with animation that looks fine but doesn’t have a unique style. The dialogue is bland, the jokes are predictable, and don’t get me started on the music—commercial pop songs that add nothing. That said, my 7-year-old loved it, so maybe I’m just too old and grumpy for this one.
Nine Lives, Zero Consequences
One of my biggest gripes? The way the whole reincarnation thing plays out. Beckett burns through 18 lives total, but in the end, he just comes back as a baby cat like nothing happened. It makes death feel as casual as hitting the reset button on a video game. No stakes, no emotional weight—just a way to stretch out the runtime. The villain, a greedy director trying to kill off real bees to sell mechanical ones, was actually one of the more interesting ideas in the movie, but the execution was just okay. At the end of the day, this is a passable family flick, but I wouldn’t watch it again. If you want a cat movie with real artistic value, go watch Flow (2024) instead.
π₯ Cinematography (7/10):
The animation is fine but lacks uniqueness.
π Story (4/10):
Predictable, uninspired, and missing emotional weight.
π¬ Direction (5/10):
Competent but nothing special. Feels like a generic kids' movie.
π₯ Characters (3/10):
Beckett has some personality thanks to Mo Gilligan, but the rest are forgettable.
π₯ Visual Effects (7/10):
The animation is decent, but it doesn’t stand out.
π Acting (3/10):
Again, Mo Gilligan adds life to Beckett, but no one else shines.
π¬ Dialogue (4/10):
Lacks wit, originality, and memorable moments.
π Setting/Atmosphere (4/10):
A mix of fun concepts but nothing visually striking.
π΅ Music (3/10):
Functional orchestral and annoying commercial pop songs with no impact.
π Entertainment Value (5/10):
Okay for kids, but dull for adults. Wouldn't rewatch.
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