Genre: Kids & Family, Comedy, Adventure, Sports, Animation
Directed by Rob Minkoff, Mark Koetsier, Chris Bailey
Produced by Rob Minkoff, Adam Nagle, Peter Nagle, Guy Collins, Yair Landau, Susan Purcell
Screenplay by Ed Stone, Nate Hopper
Based on Blazing Saddles by Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Alan Uger
Starring: Michael Cera, Ricky Gervais, Mel Brooks, George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Gabriel Iglesias, Djimon Hounsou, Michelle Yeoh&Samuel L. Jackson.
Edited by Michael W. Andrews
Music by Bear McCreary
Cinematography: Olaf Skjenna (layout)
Production Companies: Flying Tigers Entertainment, Align, GFM Animation, Aniventure, HB Wink Animation, Cinesite, Brooksfilms
Distributed by Paramount Pictures Studio Store, Huayi Brothers, Nickelodeon Movies
The plot: A down-on-his-luck hound finds himself in a town full of cats who need a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain’s evil plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant trainer, the underdog must assume the role of fearsome samurai and team up with the felines to save the day. The only problem is — they all hate dogs.
This film was forgettable.
Pros: The Voice acting is passable and Samuel L. Jackson was awesome as hank’s Sensei.
Cons: The story wasn’t that interesting. You don’t root for any characters that much and the full film felt lifeless when you are watching it.
Cast & Characters:
- Michael Cera as Hank, a bumbling beagle who aspires to be a samurai, based on Sheriff Bart from Blazing Saddles
- Samuel L. Jackson as Jimbo, Hank’s reluctant tuxedo cat sensei who trains him to become a samurai, based on The Waco Kid from Blazing Saddles
- Ricky Gervais as Ika Chu, a warmongering Somali cat, based on Hedley LaMarr from Blazing Saddles
- Mel Brooks as Toshi, an empathetic British shorthair who is the shōgun of Kakamucho, essentially a reprisal of one of Brooks’ roles as Gov. William J. Le Petomane from Blazing Saddles
- George Takei is Ohga, a muscular Manx cat who is the leader of Ika Chu’s army, based on Taggart from Blazing Saddles.
- Gabriel Iglesias as Chuck, a clumsy calico cat
- Djimon Hounsou as Sumo, a giant, dim-witted, yet philosophical tabby cat, based on Mongo from Blazing Saddles.
- Michelle Yeoh as Yuki, an optimistic female Persian cat who is Emiko’s mother
- Kylie Kuioka as Emiko, a feisty young Persian cat who also wants to become a samurai
- Aasif Mandvi as Ichiro, a slim tuxedo cat
- Cathy Shim as Little Mama, the grand dame of Kakamucho.
I would skip this one.
Rating: 1 out of 5 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe.