Omair Alavi|Published March 6, 2021
Ever wondered which two animated characters are the most recognisable ones across the world? They are not Superheroes nor Supervillains but a cat and a mouse — Tom and Jerry — who have been rivals for over eight decades! However, in Tom and Jerry: The Movie, they join hands to save the day, for their friend, fans and, above all, themselves!
This film revolves around the two titular characters who relocate to New York City for greener pastures; however, they renew their rivalry after Jerry disrupts Tom’s concert in Central Park. It is after their first fight that Tom ‘accidentally’ meets Kayla (Chloë Grace Moretz) who is tasked with managing a grand wedding at a grand hotel. Her biggest issue is that she lied to her future employers (Rob Delaney and Michael Peña) about her experience and offers to get rid of Jerry, who has made the hotel his home.
In order to impress the boss, she joins hands with Tom who does get rid of Jerry, but when the latter returns, ‘hell followed with him’. The arrival of Spike and Toodles makes matters more complicated for the characters, but entertaining for the viewers. The amalgamation of live-action and animation is done wonderfully, especially the scene where Michael Peña takes Spike for a ride or where Chloë Grace Moretz is able to communicate with the two non-speaking characters. Interesting, isn’t it?
However, the more presence of live-action characters and the comparatively lesser presence of animated characters, including Tom and Jerry, does upset viewers who are the fans of these iconic duo. It might be due to the fact that the makers wanted to check the audience’s reaction and since the response has been amazing, they might be planning a sequel soon. From six to sixty, everyone who has loved Tom and Jerry would love this movie, for it pays tribute to the iconic characters, and even recreates some of their classic moments.
At a time when cinemas around the world have either closed down or are going out of business, it took a ‘Tom and Jerry’ to bring the industry back to its feet. Releasing simultaneously on digital and in cinemas, this movie became a ‘hit’ within the first weekend and gave a new lease of life to those who were worried that their business might not be able to return to normalcy anytime soon.
Will Chloë Grace Moretz be part of the next Tom and Jerry adventure isn’t decided, but what’s settled is that when the chips are down, call Tom and Jerry to make your day!
Published in Dawn, Young World, March 6th, 2021
