Among the numerous trailers of
big-budget blockbusters that made their debut during the 2019 San Diego Comic
Con last month, one preview tended to draw a low of vitriol from viewers, that
of the cinematic adaptation of the long-running musical “Cats” from Universal
Pictures. The near-universal complaint in the reactions was the “uncanny valley”
caused by the filming technique where the cast, in the role of stylishly anthropomorphized
cats, were “painted over” with CGI fur and feline features instead of make-up.
While most of the film’s cast has kept quiet on the trailer reviews, Australian
actress Rebel Wilson states she loves the viewers’ professed unease.
Entertainment Weekly tells us that Rebel Wilson is only getting a
good laugh at the bad rep the first trailer for “Cats” is getting on social media.
She took note of the massive response and the assertion of many online comments
that the CGI-cat look on the cast was downright creepy. “I think people get
confused because it’s essentially a dance movie in a lot of ways,” Rebel tells EW. “So it really is all our own bodies.
And yes, they’re covered in fur. I think some people found it a bit creepy
’cause we’re people but we look a bit like cats dancing around.”
Rather than be
concerned that the initial bad press for the trailer might ultimately sour
moviegoers from watching the film, which screens in the Holiday season, Wilson
is of the opinion that the intensity of the press buzz will only spur more
curious viewers into checking “Cats” out upon premiere. “What you got in that
trailer was just some small samples of it, but it’s going to be such a big
movie,” she says. “And the cast is obviously incredible.”
Rebel Wilson’s
character in “Cats” is the “Old Gumbie Cat” Jennyanydots, described in the
musical song concerning her as a kitty that is dormant during the day but
becomes active at night. The special effects that turns her into Jenny is one
of the most critiqued visuals of the trailer, with social media calling out the
CGI work highlighting a prominent bust on her cat-body. Wilson thinks nothing
of the bile and is supportive of the SFX work for her character, silencing
dissent with, “To me, it looked like how I thought it would look.” The
Jennyanydots sequences in the preview see her falling off a ledge while
sleeping, dancing a jig, and getting her paw-hand caught in a mousetrap.
Even with the
question of viewer interest following the reception of the first trailer, Universal’s
“Cats” musical film will have some heavy competition when it arrives in
theaters on December 20. “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” is up on that
general time period too.
0 comments:
Post a Comment