That Darn Cat MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +2 1/2

Walt Disney Pictures has remade this popular family comedy, which was first produced in 1965. It's a wholesome new version with lots of action, laughs and rambunctious cats and dogs. It stars Christina Ricci, playing 16-year-old Patti Randall, who's bored with school and her sleepy little town of Edgefield, Mass. But she does like her cat named D.C. (for darn cat), who is her faithful companion. Everything changes when the maid of a wealthy couple in town is kidnapped and Patti thinks D.C. can lead them to the culprits. Even the FBI thinks Patti and her feline friend can help and assigns a comical, inept agent (Doug E. Doug) to work with Patti in solving the mystery. Their sleuthing leads to all sorts of funny, slapstick happenings, including trailing D.C. on his nightly activities and an eventual confrontation with the kidnappers. This fast-paced comedy will appeal primarily to youngsters ages five through twelve, but it is clever enough to entertain younger teenagers and parents as well. Even so, it's rather traditional family fare and could have been more imaginative.

That Darn Cat is refreshingly free of offensive elements, except for a few mild and moderately rough words. Patti's mother and father are loving, concerned parents, although her mother tends to dominate her husband and is overly protective of Patti. Eventually Patti decides that her town is not all that bad and becomes very popular after she receives so much media attention. A few slightly suggestive scenes show a lady butcher store operator dancing somewhat seductively alone at night in her shop. In one scene she wears a low-cut evening gown. The film also has its share of slapstick violence, particularly when it concludes with a high-speed auto chase. Autos, parts of buildings, objects near the streets and two service stations are destroyed, but no one is injured. Further, a few persons are roughed up, some are injured accidentally and others are hit by falling objects. However, none of this slapstick mayhem seems excessive. Overall, That Darn Cat is one of the more commendable and fun films which Disney has produced in recent years.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures, 3900 W. Alameda Blvd., Burbank, CA 91521-0021