Early reviews for Tom and Jerry are in, and they are not a good sign for the famous cat-and-mouse duo. Critics are slamming the film for its vapid script and average performances which undermine the animation that attempts to pay homage to the physical comedy of the beloved cartoon. However, many are recognizing the movie's potential appeal to younger audiences and nostalgic appeal for older audiences.
Tom and Jerry is a live-action-animation hybrid feature based on the famous slapstick shorts of the 1940s and 1950s. The cartoon series revolves around a rivalry between the titular characters, a cat Tom and a mouse Jerry. While the original cartoon saw success as a simple cat-and-mouse comedy, the film reboot attempts to blend live-action and animation in the style of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Tom and Jerry stars Chloë Grace Moretz in the lead role as an unemployed New Yorker who swindles her way into a job at a fancy hotel where the "wedding of the century" is being held. Tom and Jerry also happen to be seeking refuge in the hotel after being kicked out of their home, setting the film’s comedic stage.
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The early critical reactions to Tom and Jerry are trending downward. Many reviews are crediting the movie for being a fun family-friendly comedy that will evoke feelings of nostalgia for older audiences who grew up on the series of slapstick cartoons. Though, critics cannot overlook the unimaginative screenplay, dull human conflict which takes away from the classic cartoon characters, and pedestrian performances by the human actors Michael Peña, Colin Jost, and Rob Delaney. Check out some of the critics’ reactions with a link to each full review embedded below:
David Fear, Rolling Stone
The actors got checks. The cat and mouse got to relive their glory days one last time, and no one called them Itchy or Scratchy, not once.
Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
Will fail equally for adults who grew up on Tom & Jerry, and their kids who have never heard of these characters.
Jason Bailey, New York Times
It's all flop sweat, a sad, desperate attempt to make Tom and Jerry the one thing they never were: cool.
Peter Debruge, Variety
No, "Tom & Jerry" won't be winning any Oscars... But it's good enough to go down easy.
G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
A movie that seems to have been made by people who don't understand the history, true nature or appeal of their iconic characters.
John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter
Tom & Jerry is five to ten minutes of action that might have worked in one of the cartoon duo's shorts, surrounded by an inordinate amount of unimaginative, unfunny human-based conflict.
Alonso Duralde, The Wrap
One could point out the film's changing rules regarding the laws of physics, and inter-species communications, but Tom & Jerry certainly doesn't care about those details, so why should we?
A major point of contention for the movie is its hybrid live-action-animation style, which some critics are calling “clunky” and “manic,” while other critics are claiming it worked effectively. The biggest strike against Tom and Jerry seems to be its uninteresting human characters and conflict which detract from what the beloved cartoon series was known for – snappy and slapstick style cat-and-mouse comedy.
The early critical consensus for Tom and Jerry seems to be negative, which is unfortunate since it is based on such an enjoyable property for many. Though this is not the first time a Tom and Jerry feature-length adaptation was panned by critics. Tom and Jerry: The Movie in 1992 was similarly criticized for not paying proper respect to the original cartoon. Maybe audiences will look more favorably upon the latest iteration of Tom and Jerry when simultaneously streams on HBO Max and releases in theaters February 26th.
Source: Various (see links above)