Three years ago, Roger Spottiswoode directed a sort of Disneyesque drug addict story called A STREET CAT NAMED BOB. It was a kind of amalgam of That Darned Cat meets The Panic in Needle Park.
Too long in the tale, Spottiswoode nevertheless kept the picture purring, thanks mainly to the cat cuteness of Bob. Last time a cat featured so charmingly in a duet with a muso was the Cohen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis.
The film did gangbusters in China, and its thanks to the Chinese distributors of the film that we now get a sequel, A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM BOB.
The grit has been taken out of the origin narrative, making this a far more family friendly flick and again its charm is in the all encompassing pussy, the marvelous marmalade mog, Bob.
Spottiswoode stepped away from the helm and A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM BOB is directed by Charles Martin Smith, a dab hand at tabby handling.
Luke Treadaway again treads the path of busker, James Bowen, street troubadour, Big Issue vendor and Bob’s bestie.
In A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM BOB, James looks back at the last Christmas he and Bob spent scraping a living on the streets and how Bob helped him through one of his toughest times, providing strength, friendship and inspiration and ultimately teaching each other about the true meaning of Christmas spirit along the way.
Predictable and pedestrian yet cozily comfortable, A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM BOB is festive season that should leave you feline good.
