ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, March 28, 1997                 TAG: 9703280047
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1    EDITION: METRO 
                                             TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO THE ROANOKE TIMES 

CHILDREN WILL ENJOY THE ACTION AND ANIMATION

"Cats Don't Dance" is a short, snappy little animated musical.

It's told at such a frantic pace that the simple characters can't establish any real personalities, but the animation is so colorful and the action is so inventive that young viewers probably won't care.

For the grown-ups who accompany them, the story is filled with references to movies and stars from the 1930s and '40s.

Danny (with voice by Scott Bakula) is a small-town cat with big dreams. He catches the bus in Kokomo and heads for Hollywood, where he plans to find fame and fortune as a dancer.

He signs up with an animal agent, but refuses to believe that in the movie business, cats are just supposed to say "meow." The agency's feline assistant Sawyer (with voice provided by Jasmine Guy) learned that lesson a long time ago.

When Danny is hired to be an animal extra, he makes the mistake of upstaging Darla Dimple, a demented child star who's not about to take that kind of treatment.

Veteran director Mark Dindal tosses in lots of movie jokes, tipping his hat to "Sunset Boulevard" and "Singin' In the Rain." Part of the conclusion is borrowed directly from the Chuck Jones-Bugs Bunny masterpiece, "What's Opera, Doc?" (Jones also directed the new short cartoon, "Pullet Surprise" that's running with the feature.) Randy Newman's six songs are negligible.

Kids who devour such TV fare as "Animaniacs" will like this one, too.

mini review --

++1/2 Cats Don't Dance (G): This short, snappy little animated musical is told at such a frantic pace that the simple characters can't establish any real personalities, but the animation is so bright and colorful that young viewers probably won't care. For the grown-ups who accompany them, the story of a smalltown cat who comes to Hollywood to find fame and fortune is filled with references to movies and stars from the 1930s and '40s. 75 min.

+ET

D+++1/2

Cats Don't Dance|

** 1/2

A Warner Bros. release playing at the Salem Valley 8. 75 min. Rated G.

"Cats Don't Dance" is the story of a small-town cat who makes his way to Hollywood to find fame and fortune. Jasmine Guy and Scott Bakula are featured voices.

LENGTH: Medium:   60 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  "Cats Don't Dance" even throws in some references to old
          movies to keep the grownups interested. color.