Tom and Jerry Movie Review #tomandjerrymovie

Fans of the classic “Tom and Jerry” cartoons from the 1940s and 1950s will find nostalgia in the slapstick humor, cat-and-mouse-chase tropes in the new Tom and Jerry movie.

Tom and Jerry Movie Review

Best of enemies. Worst of Friends. The classic cat and mouse duo are joined on the big screen by actors in this feature-length film. Feeling very Who Framed Roger Rabbit-esque with its 2D animation style combined with live-action, thankfully the duo doesn’t talk or sing (unlike the much more abysmal 1992 version).

If you go into the new Tom and Jerry movie expecting a masterpiece, you’ll be sorely disappointed. However, if you are looking for 101 minutes of entertainment for your 7-year-old nephew and a few chuckles from some actors you like, Tom and Jerry is the perfect film.

Tom (left) is confronted by Kayla (Chloë Grace Moretz) and Jerry in Warner Bros. “Tom & Jerry,” a new mix of animation and live-action that is released in theaters and on HBO Max on Friday, Feb. 26.
Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

What Works – Tom and Jerry Movie Review

The performances by the actors are enjoyable. Chloë Grace Moretz is always charming, and even more so as she bluffs her way into a position at a swanky NCY hotel that she isn’t qualified for.

When isn’t Michael Peña funny? I’d pretty much watch anything with Peña in it because I know it’s will be good for a few laughs.

Rob Delaney as the finicky manager of the swanky NYC hotel. And watching Ken Jeong destroy a cake in one take?

The animation was great and while modern, still reflects the feel of the original cartoons. The 2D style combined with the live-action was beautifully implemented.

Tom and Jerry movie included references and callbacks to the original cartoon episodes—including William Hanna’s iconic Tom screams—which was a lovely reminder for those who have been long-time fans of the pair’s antics.

JERRY and TOM in Warner Bros. Pictures’ animated/live-action adventure “TOM AND JERRY.” Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

What Doesn’t Work – Tom and Jerry Movie Review

If you’re looking for a deep plot and something the entire family is all going to love, this probably isn’t it. However, take that with a grain of salt and remember who the audience demographic is for this film.

My 7-year-old nephew was enamored with this movie. He was glued to the TV screen and laughed for the entire film. However, I was not as impressed. It was mildly entertaining and I appreciated a few of the jokes and did appreciate the animation. As a whole? It didn’t work for me.

The potty jokes and crass humor (and believe me, I have the mind of a 12-year-old boy) just didn’t work. It’s not who Tom and Jerry were. I don’t believe we have to make everything crass and inappropriate to sell movies and tv shows. At one point in the film, the (animated) bulldog poops in the middle of the crosswalk, and Michael Peña’s character screams, “How many burritos did you eat??”

(L-r) JERRY and TOM in Warner Bros. Pictures’ animated/live-action adventure “TOM AND JERRY.” Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

Watch the Tom and Jerry Movie Trailer

One of the most beloved rivalries in history is reignited when Jerry moves into New York City’s finest hotel on the eve of “the wedding of the century,” forcing the event’s desperate planner to hire Tom to get rid of him, in director Tim Story’s Tom & Jerry. The ensuing cat and mouse battle threatens to destroy her career, the wedding, and possibly the hotel itself.

But soon, an even bigger problem arises: a diabolically ambitious staffer conspiring against all three of them. An eye-popping blend of classic animation and live-action, Tom and Jerry’s new big-screen adventure stakes new ground for the iconic characters and forces them to do the unthinkable…work together to save the day.

Tom & Jerry stars Chloë Grace Moretz (Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, The Addams Family), Michael Peña (Cesar Chavez, American Hustle, Ant-Man), Rob Delaney (Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Colin Jost (How to be Single, “Saturday Night Live”), and Ken Jeong (Crazy Rich Asians, The Hangover, Transformers: Dark of the Moon). The film is directed by Tim Story (Fantastic Four, Think Like a Man, Barbershop) and produced by Chris DeFaria (The LEGO Movie 2, Ready Player One, Gravity).

It is written by Kevin Costello, based on characters created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Serving as executive producers are Tim Story, Adam Goodman, Steven Harding, Sam Register, Jesse Ehrman, and Allison Abbate. The creative filmmaking team includes director of photography Alan Stewart, production designer James Hambidge, editor Peter S. Elliot, and costume designer Alison McCosh. The music is composed by Christopher Lennertz. A Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Animation Group presentation, a Tim Story Film, Tom & Jerry will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The film is rated PG for cartoon violence, rude humor, and brief language.

TOM & JERRY opens in theaters and on HBO Max on February 26th.

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Jana

Jana Seitzer is a writer, traveler, podcaster, and geek. Although well-versed in many fictional universes, Star Wars & Marvel have always been her favorites.

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Tom and Jerry Movie Review