A Street Cat Named Bob: Average Guy Movie Review

A Street Cat Named Bob is the story of James Bowen, a man trying to get over an addiction to heroin, who rescued an injured cat. When Bowen's attempts to reunite the cat with his owners failed, said cat adopted him. The newly named Bob would follow Bowen to Covent Garden where he played music to the crowds. The self appointed feline companion helped Bowen to turn his life around, becoming a best selling author writing about their experiences.

The movie is directed by Roger Spottiswoode, a man used to working with animals having directed the Tom Hanks classic, Turner and Hooch. This is a touching story about the bond between animals and humans, and the incredible effect an animal can have on our lives. The performances are great all round, Luke Treadaway does a brilliant job playing a struggling addict who wants desperately to get clean. Despite being a very human story, it is Bob who steals the show. It's fun to watch him follow Bowen around, usually riding on Bowen's shoulders or sitting on his guitar as he plays to the crowd. In most scenes Bob is playing himself.

As much as children would enjoy the story of a man rescuing a cat, it is not suitable for them, carrying a 12 certificate in the UK. The scenes involving drug use aren't graphic, but it doesn't shy away from the dangers of drug addiction and rightly so. Bowen actually wrote a version of A Street Cat Named Bob specifically for children called "Bob: No Ordinary Cat". 

If I had to say anything negative about this movie it's that because the story is so well known, the stakes don't feel that high. But as in life, the story is about the journey not the destination. A man saved a cat and in turn, the cat saved the man. We are fortunate that they were willing to share their incredible story with us.

8/10

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