Film Review - 10 Lives
10 Lives is an animated comedy film directed by Welsh film producer Christopher Jenkins, reminiscent of recent films like Garfield.
The film opens with a sweeping view of the story’s world which eloquently captures the beautiful animation style and design. This animation prowess extends to the design of the main protagonist Beckett, a quirky grey cat with heterochromia voiced by Mo Gilligan.
Upon first introduction, Beckett’s character is lovably sassy without forgoing the typical selfish tendencies that feline owners know well. He’s adopted quickly by research student Rose, voiced by Simone Ashley, who loves and cares for him after nearly running over him in a freak accident.
The title aptly covers the premise for this film; a common hyperbolic idea of the nine lives cats experience as they uncannily always land on their feet and get into cheeky mischief (see: the vast compilation videos available of cats getting up to the most ridiculous antics).
The story whips through an episodic-like structure that sees Beckett use up the last of his nine lives before meeting the ‘gatekeeper’ where he is granted a ‘reset’ of his lives. The twist? He must live the next nine lives as the animal of the gatekeeper’s choice. This reset, while attempting to provide an opportunity for Beckett to transform from a “gloriously self-absorbed pet to a self-sacrificing hero”, ultimately lacks the depth and poignancy that would have made this narrative arc stand out.
The concept of the film itself showed potential. The execution and quick back-peddling in pivotal moments such as when Beckett is being refused a 10th life is almost null and void as the next second the ‘gatekeeper’ has a change of heart. This becomes a pattern that underpins each new animal Beckett must live as. His life is approved. He gets to the cusp of learning a crucial life lesson. That life comes to an abrupt albeit humorous end just as quickly as it began. Rinse and repeat.
10 Lives has received mixed reviews with many echoing the sentiment that it doesn’t quite live up to the promised potential.
Jenkins is best known for his work on the 1997 animated film Hercules and the 2017 film Home. The precedent of these previous films of this calibre makes the jokes that don’t quite land and the disjointed transition between ‘lives’ a bit of a disappointment.
The attempts at humour when Professor Craven (Bill Nighy) discloses the origins of his villainy land about as smoothly as the juvenile jokes found in the family edition of Cards Against Humanity. Hint: It’s half hearted and lacklustre.
The voice acting and cast which included ex-One Direction star Zayn Malik are two of the film’s greatest assets alongside the animation design, however, it isn’t enough to distract from the film’s shortcomings.
10 Lives isn’t a bad animated film; there is just little about it that exceeds expectations and there isn’t a particularly creative evaluation of complex life concepts, even for a film targeted at a younger demographic.
Where other family films like A Dog’s Purpose and The Wild Robot cater to a wider audience, 10 Lives falls flat in creating nuanced storylines embedded underneath the forefront that invite in older audiences. In saying this, Secret Life of Pets and Despicable Me fans will likely enjoy this film.
If you’re looking for a film to watch with your family, this one won’t set your world on fire, but it’s sure to incite some excitement from younger audiences all the same.
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10 Lives is screening in select cinemas from the 30th of January. For tickets and more info, click here.