REVIEW - THE RABBI'S CAT

This rambling French-Austrian animation is a more challenging sit than its simplistic aesthetics might suggest. It is many different types of film as it progresses, yet few of these types (if any) are easily categorisable - is is a moralistic fable, a comedic roadtrip movie, a romance? As it flits between styles of storytelling and even styles of animation, it amasses a certain charm, facilitated by the presence of a more profane sense of humour than I had expected it to possess; this is a most welcome presence. Yet its restlessness too frequently causes the humour to be shelved, and more complex thematic and moral issues to be examined instead. This, too, is welcome, although in smaller doses than Antoine Delesvaux and Joann Sfar insist on peddling to us - for a mere cartoon, this is an interesting diversion to take, but a level of preachiness seeps through, and the relevant debates never delve deep enough to truly awaken one's mind, presenting original, provocative questions. Luckily, neither does this endure, as Delesvaux and Sfar change course so often, and there's always some matter of quality and interest up ahead, even if nothing ever seems likely to turn The Rabbi's Cat into a cohesive film. Most sequences do work well in isolation, although some are dragged out a little, and some may strike you as better material for a better film, concentrating solely on that specific subject. Alas, in between a promising opening and a dreadful ending, there's much to admire here, and much to enjoy.