A street Cat Named Bob 2016

     This film is based on an international best selling book written by James Bowen.  James was a heroin addict and he’s now on the methadone program.  He runs into a buddy still using heroin and he decides to take a hit.  This sends him to the hospital because this combination turns into an overdose.  He meets Val and she gets him an apartment so he won’t be sleeping on the street.  She counsels him on the importance of the methadone program and she really works to help him.  James has a stroke of good luck when Bob the Cat comes into his apartment.  James asks all the neighbors if anyone knows who owns the cat but that is a negative.  Bob the Cat rides on James’ shoulders and James makes a LOT more money playing his guitar and singing on the street than he did before.

     It’s called being a busker in England when a person performs to get money from strangers on the street.  If a problem arises, this person can be banned from performing.  Bob the Cat is a ginger colored tabby cat.  What Bob the Cat does to really help James is that he doesn’t judge.  He doesn’t nag except if he’s hungry but he’s not complaining about anything James does as a person or what he's done in his past.  Bob the Cat lets James know he has worth and he deserves to live even though he has made mistakes.  3 1/2* (I liked this movie)

103 min, Bio directed by Roger Spottiswoode with Luke Treadaway, Bob the Cat, Ruta Gedmintas, Joanne Froggatt, Anthony Head, Darren Evans, Tony Jayawardena, Adam Riches, Llewella Gideon, Ivana Basic.

Note:  Imdb 7.4 out of 10, 77% critic 77% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic 54 out of 100 with 12 critics 8.1 out of 10 with 23 reviews, The Guardian 3* out of 5* review by Wendy Ide, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 367 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Vauxhall Bust Station, Covent Garden, London, England, UK.  Also, Twickenham Studios, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.  Multiple cats were brought in as Bob but he played himself for most of the movie.  Treadaway and Gedmintas are dating have been for several years prior to this film.  Bob’s cat food of choice was Bob Dairy Lea Dunkers.  Roger Spottiswoode also directed Turner and Hooch with a dog and Midnight Sun with a polar bear.  The real James Bowen has a cameo getting his book signed near the ending scene.