Webber buys puppy after 'appalling' cats movie, jokes about airline perks
Andrew Lloyd Webber's reaction to the 2019 film adaptation of his musical Cats? He traded theater for therapy – in the form of a Havanese puppy. The composer, renowned for hits like Jesus Christ Superstar and Phantom of the Opera, revealed his drastic measure on CBS Sunday Morning, citing the movie as so traumatic it necessitated a canine companion.
The composer was less than impressed with the cinematic rendition of his beloved musical.
Webber didn't mince words, describing the film as "appalling" and hinting at a lengthy list of grievances. His solution? “After the appalling Cats movie, I went out and bought myself a little Havanese puppy,” he quipped. He explained the dog now serves as his "therapy dog on planes," employing a clever workaround with airlines. A simple note mentioning the "Cats movie" as the reason for the dog’s presence has seemingly bypassed the need for veterinary documentation.
The 2019 Cats movie, boasting a star-studded cast including Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, and Taylor Swift, was widely panned. Critics particularly targeted the film's unsettling CGI, which transformed the actors into bizarre, furry creatures. Universal Pictures even released an updated version, a move akin to a video game patch attempting to fix glaring graphical errors.
Webber's criticism extends beyond the special effects. He previously voiced concerns about directorTom Hooper's decision to exclude anyone involved in the original stage production. "The problem with the film was that [director] Tom Hooper decided, as he had with [Les Misérables], that he didn’t want anybody involved in it who was involved in the original show,” Webber stated in a prior interview. “The whole thing was ridiculous.”
IGN’s review scored the film a 4.5/10, labeling it "a lifeless disaster," though acknowledging performances from Judi Dench and Idris Elba offered moments of ironic amusement. The film’s failure highlights the perils of attempting to translate the magic of a stage production to the big screen without respecting its core elements.
Webber’s canine coping mechanism speaks volumes. It’s a testament to the film’s profound failure to capture the spirit of the original musical, and a rather humorous anecdote born from cinematic disappointment.