Top Cat (2011) User Reviews

... Good? ...Bad? ...Mediocre? ...What do I call it!?

[joebrian55 · 5/10 · 24 July 2012]

I just saw this movie online and, seeing how it would likely be my only opportunity to see how bad this is movie is, I actually spent an hour and a half watching this.

To begin, I think I wasted an hour and a half on worse things than this. Granted, I don't like Flash animation that's not made for the Internet.

I did not grow up with Top Cat as a kid, but I did watch the original cartoon for a little over a year and found it funny. I love some Hanna-Barbera classics, like Flintstones, Dexter's Lab, Jetsons, Top Cat and I also like me some Tom and Jerry cartoons.

Sadly, this is barely anywhere near the same charm the original show had. I am more tolerant of bad puns than a lot of people I know, I'm sure, but I barely giggled in a few scenes. Sure, some slapstick humour and a few of the cat puns were funny, but I am quite outraged the movie includes rude humour that was obviously not present on the show.

I don't expect animation and cinema from Latin America to be incredibly super-duper high quality, but I certainly don't expect Latino screenwriters to stoop as low as Hollywood writers. Never in any episode of Top Cat was there verbal toilet humour, ouch-in-the-groin jokes , disgustingly hideous close-ups etc. Plus, I could've sworn that when he was kissed by Trixie (did I mention there was one weak joke too many whenever they got romantic?), he put his folded hands on his groin... did anybody else think it looked like that? But the story itself is not unbearable in my opinion. Sure, it's an extended Top Cat episode, but I have seen worse kids' movies attempting to have a good story, take Over the Hedge for example. I'll give them effort for attempting to introduce Top Cat to a newer generation, but I think modern-day references (cell phones, Times Square looking like it currently does etc.) are really out of keeping with the spirit of the original Top Cat.

The 2D/3D animation combination, though not an eyesore for me, makes little sense. First of all, I would've tolerated a 2D character on a CGI background out of an animated movie from the 1980's/early 1990's, but even in the 90's, animators made it so the CGI was often not so conspicuous to the viewers. The CGI backgrounds obviously exist mainly to try to add depth for the digital 3D format, but since I never saw the 3D version, I cannot judge that.

All in all, I rate this 5 mainly for not boring me to death, attempt to introduce Top Cat and co to today's audiences, I saw it online for free, making the characters look more like the original show than Hollywood moneymakers might attempt to try, having OK music, a passable story, and a good use of "New York Groove" in the end credits.

Much better than I was expecting

[Rectangular_businessman · 5/10 · 27 February 2012]

"Top Cat" was my favorite Hannah-Barbera cartoon from my childhood, so, when this movie was announced, I wasn't sure about what could expect from this.

Then I saw the first trailer, and I thought that this movie was going to be awful: The animation and the designs looked horrible(For me, the worst aspect from this movie is the quality of the animation: The combination of cheap CGI backgrounds with characters done with Flash was incredibly unappealing...I know this is not a Hollywood production made by a Big studio, but seriously, even the animated series of "El Chavo del Ocho" made by Alberto Mar, which is also the director of this movie, looked better.) However, when I finally had the chance to watch this movie, I was glad to see that the personalities of the main characters from the original cartoon were respected. Also, the humor style from this film, despite being somewhat simplistic and predictable, respects the essence from the original series, despite the addition of some modern elements that doesn't work very well.

The voice acting was very good (I guess that's because most of the voices were done by the same people who dubbed the original series, but also the voice acting for the new characters were done quite well, even if those character weren't particularly funny or interesting) Eve when this film isn't an extraordinary masterpiece, at least is much better than most of the atrocious live-action adaptations of cartoons done in the recent years by Hollywood.

Gang, We're Moving to Patagonia!

[fatcat-73450 · 5/10 · 5 November 2021]

This movie has really a really rough beginning that might make most people stop wanting to watch it, but if you sit through it to the end, you'll probably get some mileage out of it.

The first 20 minutes resemble an episode of a basic 70's TV show redone for the CGI era. Here we're introduced to all the characters. Don Gato (Top Cat) is an unethical scoundrel of an alley cat who's the leader and smartest member of a group of other extremely dim petty criminal cats.

There's Officer Matuto, the police officer who wants to keep order, a female cat who is the love interest, and the villain who's simply a caricature of an ugly and neurotic man who is also very vain.

Don Gato goes through a CGI New York City obstacle course, meets a really dumb dog who fights with him, flirts inappropriately with the female cat, and then tries to rob jewels from a rich guy while Matuto tries to catch him.

The film then jarringly transitions into a very elementary apocalyptic science fiction, reusing the characters from the first part. Matuto wants to become chief of police but his position is usurped by the the villain from the first part who is now a technocrat and the female cat from the first part is his secretary. Although Don Gato met all these characters by happenchance at the beginning of the film, they happen to become extremely important to his life. Coincidences, coincidences.

The second part is a really elementary apocalyptic satire about the villain trying to take over the city (or world?) with police robots made in china. I think the first part was made to appeal to original viewers and the second part was meant to bring in new viewers by appealing to more current trends.

This part has some really funny jokes and poignant social critiques, but it's all seeped in playground comedy and I can't say that everything is funny or clever.

Stock happy resolution with every favourable character getting rewarded and every bad character getting his comeuppance.

If you have to sit through it, you'll probably find it mildly entertaining and it's more adventurous than a typical US film (I think it's actually a Mexican film), but it's nothing special.

Honourable Mentions: Recess: School's Out (2001) Like Don Gato, which is about larcenous alley cats and becomes an apocalyptic AI movie, Recess: The Movie also starts out with an equally humble roster of elementary school students on the playground and it expands to become a government conspiracy action thriller.

Don't waste your money!

[meganpreston99 · 2/10 · 9 June 2012]

Took my 4 year old to watch this today, he loves going the pictures, as do i. This was awful, so boring my boy wouldn't sit still through it and couldn't wait for it to finish, all i can say is i was happy to leave. Wouldn't sit through it again, even if it was free. We didn't laugh once, barely even smiled. Most of the children in there didn't seam to happy with it either. It just felt like a extra long episode of top cat. All in all spent about £40.00 to watch something that neither of us enjoyed or will remember. Asked my little boy if he enjoyed it he said "it was OK, but i don't want to see it again" for him who watches the same cartoon over and over again says it all.

Even the kids wanted to leave

[Richardxwilliams · 1/10 · 17 June 2012]

Definitely the worse film of the year and struggling to think of one ever. I was a massive TC fan when I was little so was excited at being able to take my 2 boys to go and see the film. Really wish I hadn't bothered. In the interest of fairness I should point out I watched the 2D version so the 3D version may be slightly better if this was done well but based on the rest of the film I doubt it. No story and terrible animation, do yourself and your children a favour and spend your money on something else. If people go and watch this rubbish then the film companies will continue to churn out this dross knowing that parents will still take their kids.

Let's be fair...

[jonabbott56 · 18 November 2012]

This film did not quite make the grade, as remakes or reboots of much loved originals rarely do, but I have been quite taken aback by the harshness of some of the reviews, which rightly point out the problems but fail to mention what worked. Having seen what's been done to other classic TV shows by Hollywood, I think it's fair to say that what works in this film is only there because the property was farmed out to people keen to make it, rather than interfered with by sticky fingered money men and ass-covering executives.

Unlike many of the other reviewers, who seem to be speaking for entire crowds of people ranging from their entire families, to kids, to all fans everywhere, I will simply speak for myself, a Hanna-Barbera fanboy since Huckleberry Hound.

Yes, there are drawbacks, one avoidable and one not.

The one thing that spoils the film irretrievably is the bad guy, a terrible, horrible character completely out of tune with the spirit of the series, and a major misjudgement. The other problem is that the guys who did the original voices are no longer with us. There's nothing anyone can do about that.

But whatever it's failings, this film is clearly a labour of love by people who love and respect the original series, the style of which belongs to its time, and has by happy chance, proved to be timeless. The endless array of in-jokes were a delight--Laslo Laslo, Arabella, Gus, the Maharajah of Pookajee, the rich lady, Queen for a Day, Griswold, and loads of walk-throughs including A.T. Jazz and his buddy in the pool hall... this was not some careless throwaway deal as some have suggested.

Ever since Star Trek the Motionless Picture in 1979, film-makers have been taking our memories of classic TV shows and trampling all over them, worst offenders being The Avengers (U.K.) and Lost in Space, trashing the concepts and characters, and quite clearly not caring about the originals in any way, shape or form, just cashing in on the good will and name value. It was a pleasure to see a film that, even if they got the Big Picture wrong, respected and acknowledged the source material and the original audience, even to the point of retaining the original music. It's also worth noting that the Don Gato movie had different voice overs. And finally, a New York that has people and cars in it!!

So yes, Top Cat the movie could have done with a couple of rewrites before it went before the cameras, and a bit of tightening up. Let's remember that the Hollywood live action Flintstones went through 38 writers (as opposed to the three guys who wrote all the hundred-plus episodes they were drawing from) and still came up with a lousy bad guy and a dull, over-complicated and uninteresting plot.

I thought this was an interesting failure and a brave try. I can't shake the feeling that if this had been made in L.A. some idiot would have been telling us how dark and gritty they were going to make it, Top Cat would have been a callous rapper dealing drugs, and the film would have opened with the drive-by shooting of Officer Dibble...

Another way to kill one's childhood

[rorymacveigh · 1/10 · 20 July 2012]

For those who think this pays homage to an icon of the American Childhood, think again, this doesn't pay homage to it, it practically destroys its very memory. The Voice acting is a joke, the animation has gone from classical drawn animations with smooth movements to something that could have been done by a 1st year art student, the 3d backgrounds are dark and grainy, the characters have been cut down from their original dignified selves into God only knows what and there's this idiotic running gag about how the bad guy constantly talks about how handsome he is even though he's as ugly as sin. But unlike most running gags where it comes up only every other time, say three or four times throughout the whole film, this one brings it up all the time, I'd say I counted it being brought up about 15 to 20 times in one half our section, talk about wearing it thin. Care Bears in Wonderland did a better job with Grumpy Bear's desire for food!

Basically folks, steer clear of this mess if you want your childhood memories to stay perfectly intact and/or if you want your children's sanity intact.

No fun for adults, and not much for kids either

[neil-476 · 6/10 · 8 June 2012]

As a kid I loved the Hanna Barbera TV 'toons, and the limited animation didn't bother me until later. Top Cat (puzzlingly sometimes known as "Boss Cat" in the UK, despite the theme song clearly calling it "Top Cat") was never a favourite, although I definitely saw my share of it. So I went along to see this movie more out of nostalgia than anything else.

The plot could have come out of any episode of the series, albeit here it is dragged out to feature length. It features a new character who turns out to be a police chief who intends to a) sideline Officer Dibble and b) frame Top Cat, apparently doing this so that he can install equipment to spy on everyone, everywhere. This is not an adult plot, and should not be judged as such. Unfortunately, while it may be a juvenile plot, it doesn't include much to entertain kids.

This film definitely doesn't hold much to interest an adult viewer. There is the initial nostalgia thing - the characters are all on model and the voices are reasonable approximations of the original - and the animation, while hardly ground breaking, is an improvement on the TV series. The 3D is OK.

But otherwise, this film has little to recommend it. The villain is irritating - there is a running "joke" about how handsome he thinks he is when he's clearly hideous and the story doesn't sustain a feature film.

The epitome of fast food filmmaking

[StevePulaski · 2/10 · 7 March 2014]

Top Cat is a seriously lame and lackadaisical attempt to revive an animated program from the 1960's that is probably a very miniscule pile of nostalgic dust in the minds of those who watched the show in its original run. The film was released in Mexico under Warner Bros., who handed the distribution rights over to Viva Pictures in the US and Vertigo Films in the UK, who wound up seeking out the talents of Rob Schneider and Danny Trejo for the releases outside of Mexico. Quite a lot of effort for an animated film that doesn't look good enough to sit next to the throwaway direct-to-DVD efforts and Asylum releases crowding a lonely Redbox machine at a grocery store near you.

Not since the legendary animated disaster Foodfight! has there been such a lazy, affront to the wondrous medium of animation. In such a colorful, limitless medium, Top Cat reduces itself to what looks like characters animated using hand-drawn animation placed over real-life backgrounds and ordered to function normally. However, the backgrounds are indeed animated; they just look blocky and bland enough to be considered real, especially seeing as the film looks like the colorful characters exist on a crystal clear camera lens while the backgrounds appear to be captured on a filthy, damaged lens.

To compliment the fourth-rate animation is a story barely fit for a short film. Sadly, it's stretched out to eighty-two minutes, making its narrative slimness make such a short runtime feel astronomically longer than it really is. The story follows Top Cat (Jason Harris Katz) and his gang of other cats that work to take money and power from those who don't deserve it and give it to those who hurt the other common animals of the neighborhood.

So this wacky gang of socialist felines get entangled in a messy circumstance involving a controlling villain who tries to take down Top Cat and his buddies. That's as deep as I'm willing to read into the story.

The issue here, however, isn't so much the narrative simplicity since it's outshined by the dreary animation. The issue is that the story moves at a glacial pace and the jokes in the film are anything but frequent. They feel as if they're rejected jokes from sitcoms gone past, involving puns, cheap references, and goofy toilet humor with no wit or soul.

Top Cat also appears to have a serious identity problem in the regard that it doesn't seem to know who it's catering to. Is this show geared to the adults who grew up watching the show? If so, this film had far too modest of a release - at least in the US and the UK - to even get their attention. If it's catered to the new generation, the film fails to give them something even in the same realm as a work by Pixar or Dreamworks, rendering this film even further down the later of bottom-barrel fare. It's a film that effectively pleases few and irritates many.

Voiced by: Jason Harris Katz, Rob Schneider, and Danny Trejo. Directed by: Alberto Mar.

Flop Cat

[jess-sachania · 2/10 · 23 July 2012]

Let me start out my assuring you all that I LOVE Top Cat - love the character, the cast, the original series - LOVED it all. He defined what 'living by your wits' really meant. I was so excited to take my daughter to see this.

There were three things that made this film terrible in our eyes.

Firstly, the concept of a police state without privacy is a really BIG idea to put in a kids movie. I genuinely struggled to explain the conflict between Top Cat as the ultimate libertarian and Strickland as the dictator in a way that she would understand it. Further to this the concept was quite clumsily applied so that it was sometimes pitched as freedom vs. safety, sometimes technology vs. human (or feline) imagination, sometimes arrogance vs. intelligence - it was inconsistent and didn't really make you feel that the villain was well thought out.

Secondly, Strickland continually comments about how handsome he is. These comments are just not funny or clever and are crowbarred into every sentence or conversation. It was ridiculous and it was always there - in thirty minutes he probably said it thirty times. It is the worst kind of humour, to just repeatedly say a thing. Not even in context. Rubbish.

Third and lastly, the Maharaja of Pikchu has a really exaggerated Indian accent - aren't we past the point in history at which we consigned comedy stereotypes to the bin? It frustrates me when movie makers try and get a cheap laugh from an accent, it's lazy and offensive.

We love Don Gato!

[mp3sattack · 10/10 · 11 September 2011]

Today we got the chance to assist to the premiere in Mexico and i can say it was lots of fun for all the family, from the lovely Benny (Benito) and the personality of each one of the cats, to Top Cat (Don Gato) as the smart leader of the gang, a great classic coming back to life respecting our memories for this show including the original voice of EL Tata as Benny (Benito) and Choo Choo (Cucho). i won't spoil anything but you'll see some of the extra characters of the original series and that will make your mind go back in time. A great movie for adults and kids, don't miss this one 'cause i'm sure you'll love Don Gato too.

and the razzie goes to.. top cat oh wait this is made in Mexico

[mooviefan-891-879574 · 2/10 · 12 October 2011]

if this movie was produced in the US probably it would be the winner of at least two razzies: worst screenplay and worst picture. Now everyone knows that Top Cat ( Don Gato) was a lot more successful here in Mexico, it was clever and fun. So maybe that is why Anima Studios though that this was going to work as a full lenght feature. The positive things: the effort in the animation ( this is an industry that is not consolidated yet, also the voice of El Tata as Benito and Cucho and some references to the original cartoon like de maraja. The rest of it is just awful. ( Spoiler) The villain wants to conquer the city using robots? ( ebd of spoiler) and I have to say that this is the most irritating character in film history you seriously want him to die in one of jigsaw s games it is absolutely unbearable, the script is also very bad there is no real conflict, or at least not one that represents a challenge for Top Cat. Seriously, I only heard two kids laughing once and that is just awful. Its also sad that animators think that kids are stupid "Oh its a kids movie they will laugh anyway" Well they didn't. Worst movie of the year no contender so far.

Hanna-Barbera's Cat better than bigger budget outings.

[amesmonde · 10 May 2012]

A new police chief unhinged and unhappy with officer Dibble frames Top Cat. Top Cat goes against his most craziest foe.

Hanna-Barber's prime time animated television star Top Cat returns in his very own movie. Where as Yogi Bear (2010) was put in a real environment and had an awful CGI makeover, makers of Top Cat thankfully stick close to his animation roots. The New York computer backgrounds plates have a hyper-real feel with the characters and gang a 2D flash-animated style similar to Dexter's Laboratory. 

Opening with the original styled Top Cat theme and a rework of the opening tricks and scams it oozes nostalgia. It has all the fun of the original cartoons albeit a little stilted at times. Choo-Choo, Brain, Benny, Spook, Fancy-Fancy and Officer Dibble are all present and correct even if Dibble is a little lighter here.

Packed with cons, robot police, gags, quips Top Cat is still the leader of the gang.

Awful

[joseabrahamcp777 · 1/10 · 28 September 2011]

I loved the original old cartoon of Top Cat, but I also have a low expectedness of the movie adaptation of the old cartoon. Personally I don't like the style of the animation, the animation have portions of 3D (CGI) but, in general looks like a flash animation of a website, also I don't like the sense of humor of the movie, neither like the story. I think that the movie was a great idea, principally for the Mexican people, because the original cartoon was very famous here in Mexico, but was an idea bad implemented. For the good side, the movie has the original voices of the Mexican actor "El Tata", it is the only thing that I like it very much, but in general is a really bad, bad movie, but, please, judge yourselves.

Should have stayed in the past...

[freezing_ice_kirby-1 · 2/10 · 1 January 2012]

Despite not being a huge hit as it is in Mexico, Top Cat still has plenty of fans over here in the US as well. When I first heard about this film, I was quite excited to see one of my favorite childhood characters brought back into the mainstream. I was a little worried that I wouldn't get a chance to watch it, but to my surprise, an English dub actually exists.

After watching the film for myself though... I have to say, I am severely, severely disappointed. Almost everything about this film ranges from mediocre, to really bad, to just flat-out poor.

The idea around using 2D character in a CGi-generated environment is nothing new to animation, as it was something that was starting in the 80's by the likes of Disney and the sort. Unfortunately, unlike Disney and Don Bluth films, where the combination of CGi and Traditional animation was either near perfect or pretty darn close, it sticks out like a sore thumb in this film. The style of the 2D characters don't match up one bit with the CGi backgrounds, resulting in some pretty awkward scenes. Not to mention, the 2D animation has plenty of errors, making me believe that while they did put in some effort, it just simply wasn't enough. Top that off with some clunky CGi effects, 2D characters in the wrong placements, a new art style that looks like something that fell right out of kindergarten, among other things, and you've got what can only be considered a very mediocre-looking film.

The humor in the film doesn't fare well either. Maybe this is just me, but when I think of Top Cat, the first things that come to mind isn't a guy getting hit in the nuts, the cats mentioning the word "Pee" a couple of times, ridiculous futuristic technology in what appears to be a modern-day world, etc. Many jokes are also just repeats of what you'd find in the 60's cartoon, showing an obvious lack of effort from the guys who made this film. There's also plenty of random jokes that, of course, go nowhere and provide absolutely nothing for the film (like the solar eclipse joke). Whoever wrote and/or directed this, completely and obviously missed the point of the 60's cartoon series, and why said series was so well beloved in the first place.

The story is also a huge mess. This film is just riddled with plot holes, plots that go nowhere, characters that are introduced, only to be forgotten minutes after appearing in the movie, and the list goes on. All the characters feel like insults to their 60's counterparts, and the main antagonist is just horrible. There's literally not one good or memorable character in this film, which makes me wonder, again, if they were even trying.

Overall, it's a really bad film. While I appreciate the effort to reintroduce an old character to a new generation, not enough effort and love was put into it to make it a LASTING impression. Too much of this film just screams the word "Lazy", that it must make even Joseph Hanna and William Barbera roll in their graves. Here's the lesson we must learn from this; Just because something's low budget, as the Hanna-Barbera cartoons were back then, does't mean it's bad. The thing about the old Hanna- Barbera cartoons is that even though they weren't as well written or sophisticated as the Looney Tunes or Disney cartoons were, they still had their own charm... and that's what people remember and cherish about those old cartoons. This movie removes that charm from Top Cat, tries to turn it into something the old cartoons weren't, and just turns the whole thing into something else... and that "Something else", quite frankly, just isn't Top Cat. Almost nothing about this films feels related to Top Cat, and if it weren't for a somewhat similar character design, it wouldn't even be Top Cat. This is just another poor attempt to "Modernize" a character for a new generation, skewering and ruining his good name in the process.

This film will undoubtedly find its fans, as anything and everything always does, but I advice those who are curious to watch this film, heed my warning; If you love and cherish the cartoon of old, and you hate when they throw in jokes that would normally only appeal to five-year old children, this is not the film for you... and I advice you stay far away from it.

2/10

How The Hell Did This Film Became A Hit In Mexico

[FilmMan47 · 2/10 · 9 October 2014]

Wow i was stunned,shocked and left disappointed after is saw this my childhood favorite show is destroyed i used to watch top cat in 90s along with other hit shows top cat was produced in early 60s and so far total of 30 episodes are out there i love tom & jerry but top cat was one of its kind this cat was cool,stylish plus a real genius who can find a solution to almost every problem in the world.

I don't know why the real makers after Hannah Barbera made more of top cat shows they should have released a film in 90s i didn't knew something like that existed until i was given a DVD the store owner said it was the best one so i picked it up and as i began watching it i felt happy but my happiness did not last long as the choppy editing,bad dialogs,shaky animation with little cgi started to appear top cat was looking so out of shape here but i was willing to forgive all flaws until the story & characters went off limits and this is only 13 to 18 minutes in the beginning of the film.

The plot:top cat,the boys & officer Dibble get caught in a crime involving coning of a Mahajara a new police chief who is very strict and taking notice of top cat's every move but a villain has some other plans.

The script was so wrong the bad guy was lame and what is top cat doing in the jail this was almost like a parody on The Shawshank Redemption there are many funny moments in the film but can never match the classic top cat the whole film is so boring even kids wont watch it i somehow sat through this while eating enough food so i could not go to sleep they showed top cat as a dumb character,they set the story in modern age but roads & buildings are from 1930's may i ask why top cat is still living in a bad alley & sleeping in below standard trash cans different from other that he usually sleeps into.

The voice acting is nice but imagine Samuel.L.Jackson was added here it would have been so much fun i just don't get this was a American show why it was allowed to be made in Mexico i love Mexican shows & movies but with real life people in it not animation it is not their thing but surprisingly this became a hit in 2011 in Mexico earning so much money there it was all for the love for tom cat nothing more.

Overall Top Cat:The Movie aka Don Gato y Su Pandilla 2011 is not for real top cat fans my rating is 2/10.Skipp It.

Most friends get to call him TC.

[michaelt281702085 · 4/10 · 28 June 2012]

To put all this into intelligent perspective. I have loved the cartoon Top Cat all my life. Top Cat the movie is a good attempt by any country of bringing Top Cat to the screen. But this misfires in my view.

The voices for the cats are all different, and it notices. And to widen out a 20 minute cartoon to 90 minutes is a drag.

Officer dibble's voice is also different. But the animation is first class.

Some Kids today probably wont like this, because most have no imagination, and neither do their parents

I give this a four for good effort.

"HAHA I love stealing from orphans." - Fake Top Cat

[Classic_Boxing_Matches · 3/10 · 22 June 2023]

While scheming to get rich to feed his gang, Top Cat gets framed for stealing money from orphans and must try clear his name.

I wasn't expecting much when I sat down to watch this. I'm not that aware of the original 60s animated show and this movie was incredibly cheap to buy online - that it's never a positive sign. I also reviews of it and people hate this mocie... At first I could understand why, it's dead simple and very low enegry. Childish even. But then it warmed it on me... yes the jokes aren't that great but they aren't overally stupid either just simple and innocent. The animation I really enjoyed! 2D characters in 3D animated environments. I know some people hated this as it doesn't look like the 60s original, and i agree it's hardly the most impressive I've seen but the simplicity of it worked well here particularly on the 3D Bluray I watched - consistant depth for the whole runtime. The premise of the film is very simple and easy to understand as it is a kids film but some of the concepts are quite adult and deal with real world concerns such as using 24/7 video camera monitoring of citizens to fine them. The whole movie is split into two parts really, part one is about Top Cat scheming get rich quick schemes and introducing characters whole part two, is about Top Cat being framed and going to "dog" jail as "cat" jail is full. That premise of a cat in dog jail was quite funny to me and probably my favourite scenes in the film. In saying that, it's hardly an exciting film, it doesn't move overaly fast, there isn't many action scenes and the voice acting is uninspired (although not the worst I've heard.). It really does feel like an extended episode of a child's Saturday morning TV show. I can't recommend it because of those reasons yet I also don't hate it. UPDATE June 2023: I did go back and watch a portion of it in 1.5x speed, and it felt so much easier to watch! The dialouge was still clear and sounded better actually when I went back to watch the film in normal speed it sounded and looked liked everything was being played at 0.5 speed. Very odd...

Final Verdict: i enjoyed the simple animation, the consistent 3D and even some of the jokes which are admittedly pretty tame but i chuckled at a few. Annoyingly it's also slow moving and not overly exciting. It's not that it's horrible, like most other reviews would make out, it's just very... simple. I enjoyed it for what it was but it's hardly something I'd watch again either. I recommend watching in 1.5x speed (trust me).

An awesome flashback!

[mxremi · 10/10 · 16 September 2011]

I just went to see this movie. People who enjoyed Don Gato as a kid really going to enjoy it. It is simply the best adaptation of a series of Hanna Barbera to the movies. By far exceeds movie adaptations of the Smurfs, Scooby Doo and the Flintstones.

You'll enjoy all the characters, the voices, with special participation of Jorge Arvizu "El Tata" as Benny the Ball and Choo Choo (better know in Mexico as Benito Bodoque and Cucho). The nostalgia of the old good days are in all the movie, but there's modern things too.

Maybe the principal problem in the movie is the villain, who can be very repulsive in some occasions, but maybe that's his job.

You definitely will not regret to take your children, they not only laugh with the film, but with your own enjoyment because, for a moment, you will be just like them.

Worthwhile.

Top Cat is back and rules!

Just don't bother

[tanishaabdulrahman · 1/10 · 14 April 2022]

If you are fan of classic top cat cartoon like myself don't watch this its so soulless and animation is terrible.

The opening looked promising with nostalgia from the original cartoon but it quickly goes downhill with terrible animation I don't know why they did 2D with 3D animation its doesn't work and why couldn't they add it like original HB cartoon.

The story is so predictable and cliche stupid generic villian, boring love interest and what annoyed me is top cat friends didn't believe him about orphans getting robbed seriously a child will get that. Then they spend so much time mopping about it instead helping him it was officer dibble to tell the gang he is innocent.

Its unfunny film, terrible animation, awful plot if you are fan of show don't watch this its so bad and insulting you can skip this and watch original cartoon.

Top Cat is Awesome!

[sukome21 · 9/10 · 12 September 2011]

Yesterday was the premiere here in Mexico city and I got the chance to go! and I LOVED it, watching the whole gang on screen! the Voices go great with the characters they are really similar to those from the original cartoon in fact I actually think some of the actors are the same! it reminded me of the good old times when cartoons where the best way to pass time :D besides its great for kids even if they never watched the original Top Cat .. Benny (Benito) its adorable !! all the characters are likable and fun Everyone should check out this movie not matter how old or if they like top cat it's an awesome movie and I highly recommended specially for kids! they will LOVE it! mainly because its impossible not to love Top Cat (Don Gato)!!

Hollywood should make more movies like this one

[Zapika · 10/10 · 18 September 2011]

2D isn't dead yet and with lovely characters and classic cartoon humor this movie shows that in a very fun way, keeping the characters in their original place in NY and situations with some of the extra characters of the series make this a step in the right direction to keep this kind of animation alive, reviving a Hanna Barbera cartoon that became the most loved cat in Mexico and Latin America, great idea, i had a really good time with it. From times Square to the alley, the whole gang comes back with a joy of a story, a bunch of phrases that have been with us since the series was aired forever and we as kids never noticed that there were only 30 episodes.

Top Cat's Back

[marisaalatorre · 10/10 · 21 September 2011]

Top Cat! Don Gato! The indisputable leader of the gang is Back with the whole gang in fact! I was really happy after seeing this movie, the voices for the characters were awesome really like the original voices! The feel of the movie it's great! reminds me of the good old days, when cartoon were cartoons and were not in full 3D like other cartoon remakes or movies :D Benny is just the most adorable thing ever actually all the characters are awesome my personal favorite is Benny! much much more than in the English version of the cartoon The Movie is super cool for adults who have watched Top cat before or for kids who have never seen it I recommended 100% percent for the whole family!! Miauuuuu! :D

Best gang ever

[pokepikalo · 10/10 · 10 November 2011]

I don't know in other countries, but Top Cat may be the most beloved cartoon character in Mexico and it was a great decision to go for the rights and make Top Cat and the gang live again, from the silly Brain to the lovely Benny, each one of the characters brings great memories, catchy phrases, crazy words and a humor that is not seen often in actual animation movies. Another great decision was to keep the characters in 2D, that's how we remember them, no need to "update" them like Yogi or the Smurfs, that's how we still love them. What else can i say, i loved it, my wife and kids too, i was the happiest man with all the merchandising of the characters. The gang is back for good, hopefully we can keep them between us for many many years to come.

Great memories

[ballenajosefina · 9/10 · 27 October 2011]

When knowing about this movie being made i had my doubts it could be as much fun as any of the episodes of the series. What a pleasant surprise to find out a story that takes me to a ride through many of those great stories about this curious gang and their leader. From the original Alo Hawaii, through Arabela, the great Maharaja and many other characters that are stuck in our memories and great lines from each character of the gang, Top Cat, Benny, Choo Choo, Spook, Fancy Fancy and my personal favorite in this movie, Brain. Very entertaining for the kids, a fabulous ride to the past for the adults who grew up with Don Gato. A family film everybody will enjoy.