«Tom and Jerry» could have done better!

The cartoonish duo created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera returns in a feature film directed by Tim Story, anchoring the two heroes in the 21st century.^th century. A funny film at times, but the script seems to lack coherence. 

You followed their adventures as a child, laughed at their eternal chases and probably didn't know which you preferred: the cat or the mouse. In 2021, Tom the cat and Jerry the mouse make their return in a feature film combining live action and animation. This time, the plot takes place in New York and, to tell the truth, it would appear that the film is more of a feature-length film with a few Tom and Jerry scenes, rather than one actually devoted to these two characters. This is because of the multiple subplots that punctuate the story we are shown. Quick summary. 

A mouse in a hotel 

The opening sequence shows New York and pigeons in full song. From there, a transition follows in which we notice that Jerry is looking to rent a new home in «The Big Apple» but, as his broker tells him, he doesn't have «the budget»... As for Tom, he's turned to music and pretends to be a blind cat who plays the piano to earn his crust. He imagines himself playing at Madison Square Garden, a dream that reality - in the person of Jerry - will quickly sabotage. Naturally, the two rivals don't stay quiet for long, before they start to make trouble for each other, much to our delight.

But an ingredient was needed to bind these cartoon scenes together and, what's more, to make a more mature, even more ambitious film. If in the previous feature film devoted to the duo, Tom and Jerry, the film (1992), the protagonists had to help a young orphan find her father, in 2021 things have changed a little. During their first chase, Tom bumps into Kayla (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young woman living off odd jobs and struggling to find her place in society. 

After losing her job to Tom, Kayla decides to apply to the Royal Gate, one of New York's chicest and most prestigious hotels, using a CV she stole. She challenges the company to prove that, even without a degree, she's capable of achieving great things. Kayla is hired temporarily at the hotel to look after the wedding of Ben and Preeta, «New York's favorite couple». Naturally, Terence, the hotel manager's right-hand man, doesn't take kindly to the arrival of this extravagant young lady, even though he's a "big shot". self-made-man who's been through a lot. Kayla's new job will be no picnic. Not least because Jerry has decided to make this establishment his new home.

A blend of elements

Let's face it, seeing the adventures of the blue cat and the brown mouse on the big screen brings back memories of when we were kids. The eternal gags of the watering can, the mouse trap that doesn't work and Tom's Machiavellian plans to catch Jerry are as enjoyable as ever. One of the film's strengths lies in the screenwriter's ability to set the story in our own time. For example, Jerry uses a ring as a chandelier, or a stolen smartphone as a TV screen. During a duo outing in the city, the two animals have their own Instagram account, followed by Preeta and Ben. The film's most memorable moment is undoubtedly Tom and Jerry's final chase after the bride, Preeta, back to the hotel. To do this, the two sidekicks use an electric skateboard (equipped with WiFi, please) and a drone to carry out their mission.

As mentioned above, while this film is a pleasure to watch, it's hard to find any coherence in it, as the story elements seem to be juxtaposed with no real narrative contribution to the plot. While the main story is that of Tom and Jerry, it ends up being secondary to the marriage of Ben and Preeta, two characters who are ultimately rather hollow. We quickly realize that Ben wants the best for Preeta but never listens to him, and that Preeta is not happy. In short, a rather predictable and regrettable cliché, all the more so as the film seems well-fed with these clichés, such as Kayla's character, the young upstart from the countryside who wants to succeed in New York, Terence the man who had to wet his shirt to make a place for himself... For us, the real challenge of the film - and its potential stakes - comes rather late, around two-thirds of the way through, when Kayla asks Tom and Jerry to cohabit peacefully for a day by organizing a day trip to New York. In a sense, the film puts elements together but treats them superficially.

Tom and Jerry is not, strictly speaking, a boring film. The scenes in which the two characters appear are a joy to watch and enjoy. But for a return to cinema - this is the second feature film devoted to their adventures since 1992 - we expected to leave the theater with stars in our eyes. Unfortunately, the film leaves the author of these lines rather disappointed.

Write to the author: ivan.garcia@leregardlibre.com