Movie Review: A Street Cat Named Bob

Official Sites: Official Facebook
Country: UK
Language: English
Release Date: 3 November 2016 UK
Filming Locations: London, England, UK and nearby locations

Image grabbed from the internet

When this movie was released in America, there were only a few places it was shown in Michigan, and they were all on the opposite side of the state from where I live.  Alas, I had to wait to watch this film, which is based on the popular book, "A Street Cat Named Bob" by James Bowen, with author Garry Jenkins.

This holiday season, I found the movie DVD at a local library, and watched it last night with Angel (who didn't appreciate hearing Bob's meows coming out of my laptop!)  Although the movie storyline is a tad bit changed from the book, I feel the changes were in the spirit of the story, and in no way changed my delight in watching the film!

Street Cat Bob, playing Bob The Street Cat

Actor Luke Treadaway plays James Bowen,
with Bob on his shoulder

Seriously, Bob is a handsome cat!

"James" and Bob

James is a drug addict, who plays his guitar on the street for money.  A ginger cat adopts James, who finds that the cat gives his life direction.  It was fun to see London locations that I had visited earlier this year, on my first-ever trip to the UK!  Especially Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, this movie about hardship, love, and finding one's path is a fine story, expressed very well.  And Bob played himself in much of the movie, with some stand-in assistance by six other cats.  James Bowen, the book's author and Bob's guardian, appears near the end of the film, asking for a book signature.

Books, books and Cat Books

Friends, between Wednesday, April 27 and Monday, May 2, I've managed to read four books, and finished listening to an audiobook!  Obviously, I misspent my weekend; instead of vacuuming, dusting, and packing for my upcoming trip, I sat and READ!  But what great stuff...!

The World According to Bob: The Further Adventures of One Man and His Streetwise Cat

by James Bowen

Published June 2, 2015

Home with Henry: A Memoir

by Anne Kaier

Published October 15, 2014

When Bunnies Go Bad: A Pru Marlowe Pet Noir

by Clea Simon

Published March 1, 2016

A is for Alibi (Kinsey Millhone Alphabet Mysteries, No. 1)

by Sue Grafton

Published September 30, 2008

The Murder House

by James Patterson and David Ellis

Published September 28, 2015

Believe it or not, but the first TWO books are really about cats, and the third has a cat that plays an important role!  The last two have nothing to do with cats; they are merely fluff pieces to cleanse the palate, so to speak.  LOL! This is James Bowen's second book about his remarkable ginger cat Bob, as they once lived on the streets of London.  Anne Kaier's memoir about Henry was a quick read; it was written like pages of a diary, after she found a kitten on the road.  And I've been reading Clea Simon's books for years; she writes multiple mystery series...all of them have cats!  I won't give away the story, but the bunny isn't who is 'bad'...

I snagged the audiobook for Sue Grafton's 'X' book, originally published in August, 2015, on a lark a week ago.  I listened to it, then discovered that there were all the other alphabet books to read!  Now, I'll slowly work my way through, and I managed to grab a copy of 'A Is For Alibi', which I pretty much read cover to cover.  It was rainy and cold, all of the cats were sleeping and The Hubby was watching playoff NBA basketball...yawn...

'The Murder House' was a real nail-biter, with an excellent ending.  I drove around on my lunch hour just to listen to that last disc, when the storylines are all brought together, with a surprise twist!  Can't say I would have picked up this book to read with my hands, but suspense and mystery are an excellent way to keep me riveted while I drive!