TOM & JERRY

Review: ‘Tom and Jerry’ Reignite a Childhood Rivalry of Fun

By: Robert Prentice
tom and jerry

One of the most beloved rivalries in history is reignited when Jerry moves into New York City’s finest hotel on the eve of “the wedding of the century,” forcing the event’s desperate planner to hire Tom to get rid of him, in director Tim Story’s “Tom and Jerry.” The ensuing cat and mouse battle threatens to destroy her career, the wedding and possibly the hotel itself. But soon, an even bigger problem arises: a diabolically ambitious staffer conspiring against all three of them.

Review

There are few rivalries as long lasting as Tom and Jerry. Tom and Jerry was a staple for me growing up along with so many other cartoons of the 80s and 90s. This mix of live action and cartoon brings back memories of the good old days. We quickly meet Tom who is out on the streets playing music to gain money and a place to sleep. Nearby as always is Jerry the mouse who gets on Tom’s last nerves and starts off the rivalry early in the film.

Caption: (L-r) TOM and JERRY in Warner Bros. animated/live-action adventure “TOM & JERRY,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In true classic Jerry style he manages to get inside of hotel and Tom is stuck outside. And therein lies the plot of this movie. Tom wants into the hotel that Jerry’s managed to get into. And of course there is a big event getting ready to happen at the hotel and they don’t want a mouse in the house (is that copyrighted?). So Tom gets an opportunity to do what cats do and hunt the mouse. But wouldn’t you know things are never that simple? When a hotel employee pits the two against each other in an effort to get back over the loss of his job, cartoon hell breaks loose.

Chloë Grace Moretz plays a young up and coming Hostess who fakes her resume to get into the hotel for a job and a place to stay. Moretz holds her own with our animated cast members but is also at her best when she is arrival alongside Michael Pena’s Terrence. Terrence is upset over the fact that she has come in and taken over his former job after an incident with the guest of honor’s dog and Tom.

The film goes way beyond ludicrous at times to bring in animated characters or to force a rivalry between Tom and Jerry. But at the end of the day that is exactly what we expect from these characters and this franchise. Much like most animated/live action films of their day, the audience is focused in two key areas. First, young kids will have a blast watching Tom and Jerry goof around on screen and create mischief wherever they go. Adults will get a laugh out of the hotel personnel trying to salvage what was otherwise supposed to be a spectacular wedding at a fancy hotel. While also inserting social commentary around social media buzz and the need to show off.

Frankly if you went into it expecting anything more than that then you might not have been a fan of Tom and Jerry in the first place. Tom and Jerry is a much needed break from reality and a goofy animated romp that goes back to the good old days of what cartoons were all about.

Tom and Jerry was released in theaters on February 26th and is also available on HBO Max for the next 31 days. Go see it bring your family and have some fun.

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