10 Lives is a 2024 animated fantasy comedy film directed by Chris Jenkins from a screenplay by Jenkins, Karen Wengrod and Ken Cinnamon. It was co-produced by Canada, United Kingdom, France and United States. The film features the voices of Mo Gilligan, Simone Ashley, Sophie Okonedo, Zayn Malik, Dylan Llewellyn, Jeremy Swift, Tabitha Cross and Bill Nighy. The film is about a pampered housecat Beckett (Gilligan) who totally takes for granted the lucky hand he has been dealt; loved and rescue by Rose, a kind-hearted and passionate student focused on saving the world's bee population after his ninth life is about to loose. 10 Lives had its world premiere on January 20, 2024, at the Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah. In the United Kingdom, the film classes as a Sky Original, where it became available to watch on Sky Cinema and streaming on Sky's streaming service NOW. Briarcliff Entertainment acquired the North American distribution rights to the film, and it is set to be released on an undetermined date in the United States.

Plot

As a kitten, Beckett is adopted by Rose, a student specialised in bees. Later, Rose receives the visit of Larry, her ex-boyfriend, who helps her find a solution to the problem of the recent death of numerous bees. Beckett is jealous and tries to make Larry leave the house but the cat loses his ninth life. Beckett pleads Grace, responsible for the afterlife of animals, to be allowed to return to his former life: the Gatekeeper allows him to return to earth with a new set of Lives, but in a variety of different forms: badger, rat, cockroach, parrot, fish, dog and horse. Meanwhile, Professor Craven, Rose's lab director, tries to sabotage her studies so that he can sell his drone-bees universally. He repeatedly sends two thugs to destroy her bees and replace her vaccine samples. Eventually he sets a public presentation, during which he hopes Rose will prove her research was led in vain. But, this time as a bee, and subsequently as himself, Beckett manages to make Craven's evil intentions clear and save the bees. He saves Rose, attacked by drone-bees, from drowning but loses his last life and is sent to Heaven. Years pass and Beckett appears to eventually come back as a kitten, to be adopted by Larry and Rose's young daughter named Beatrice.

Cast

Mo Gilligan as Beckett, a pampered and selfish housecat. His fur is entirely gray and white and he has heterochromia,with one yellow eye and one blue eye. He is rescued and loved by Rose. Simone Ashley as Rose Ashley, a kind-hearted and passionate student. Sophie Okonedo as Grace, an ethereal, no-nonsense woman with the power to grant Beckett the cat his new Lives. Bill Nighy as Professor Richard Craven, Rose's superior and the main antagonist. Dylan Llewellyn as Larry Llewellyn, Rose's socially discomfited lab partner. Zayn Malik as Kirk and Cameron, a bee pair of tough-acting twins. Jeremy Swift as Happy, a wisecracking American Pit Bull Terrier. Tabitha Cross as Beatrice Ashley

Production

10 Lives was produced by GFM Animation, a London-based production company that acquired the project from Original Force, a Chinese animation studio. The film was also co-produced by L’Atelier Animation (a Canada-Based animation company), The Happy Producers, Align, Quad and Caramel Films. In October 2022, it was announced that Zayn Malik, Simone Ashley, Mo Gilligan, Sophie Okonedo and Dylan Llewellyn would star in the film. Later in January 2023, Bill Nighy and Jeremy Swift joined the cast of the film. This was the first feature film speaking role for Zayn Malik.

Release

The film had its world premiere on January 20, 2024, in the Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah. For the premiere, the film's cats are seen at a stage, in front of the film festival. In the United Kingdom, the film was distributed as a Sky Original. It was released on April 5, 2024 and it is available to watch on Sky Cinema and streaming on Sky's streaming service NOW. In May 2024, Briarcliff Entertainment acquired the North American distribution rights to the film. It was set to be released in the United States on October 11, 2024, however, two weeks before release, the studio silently took it off the schedule to avoid competition with The Apprentice.

Reception

A review at Common Sense Media concluded, "The movie is sweet, funny, and warm, although it has tearjerker moments that might upset younger kids." A review in Deadline offered a similar appraisal of the production. Screen Rant too was positive about the film: "Yet what stands out is how, even after all these years in the business, Jenkins clearly has still has the spirit of fun and storytelling aimed at small children and that’s the loveliest thing of all. Modest though this film may be, it’s a genial achievement."

References

External links

10 Lives at IMDb