In a world where live-action adaptations of beloved cartoons often miss the mark, Netflix’s latest offering is hitting the sweet spot of nostalgia.
The streaming giant’s newest hit, a live-action take on the classic cat-and-mouse caper Tom & Jerry, is currently making waves, storming its way to the ninth spot on Netflix’s top ten list of films in the US.
Directed by Tim Story and penned by Kevin Costello, this iteration of Tom & Jerry features an ensemble cast including Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Colin Jost, Rob Delaney, Pallavi Sharda, Jordan Bolger, Patsy Ferran, and Ken Jeong in live-action roles. The titular characters are voiced by none other than William Hanna himself, with the help of archival recordings and additional vocals from Kaiji Tang and André Sogliuzzo.
The film blends live-action and animation, drawing inspiration from silent film comedies and classic slapstick humour reminiscent of Charlie Chaplin’s antics. Despite not being a cinematic masterpiece, it’s a delightful romp through nostalgia, with nods to beloved classics like Home Alone 2: Lost in New York and Dunston Checks In.
Moretz also spoke of the influence Who Framed Roger Rabbit? had on the film in an interview with Yahoo Movies UK, “I watched a lot of interviews with Bob Hoskins about the world they created with Who Framed Roger Rabbit. He wasn’t surprised by what the toons were doing, he was annoyed because that’s what they always do.”
Moretz explained how the whole experience was a tad psychotic, “I gleaned a lot from watching interviews [with Hoskins]. He told an interviewer that he felt a little psychotic afterwards, he was interacting with inanimate objects. I started doing that – apologising to doors – and I thought, ‘I’m turning into him!’ I’m going to go to my next movie and try to act opposite nothing!”
Sure, it may not capture the anarchic spirit of the original shorts entirely, but this 2021 version of Tom & Jerry is an adequately winsome throwback that’s a decent choice for a cosy movie night.
So grab your popcorn, settle in, and let these iconic frenemies whisk you away on a nostalgic adventure filled with laughs and antics. Watch Tom & Jerry on Netflix and catch the trailer here:
