What’s It About
A down-on-his-luck hound finds himself in a town full of cats who need a hero to defend them from a ruthless villain’s evil plot to wipe their village off the map. With help from a reluctant trainer, the underdog must assume the role of fearsome samurai and team up with the felines to save the day. The only problem is — they all hate dogs.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
“Paws of Fury” is just a kid-friendly “Blazing Saddles” with animals. It’s the story of Hank (voiced by Michael Cera), an unfortunate dog who is sent to a village of cats so he can be their samurai protector. The twist? In this universe, cats hate dogs, meaning Hank has to deal with a lot of prejudice. Does that ring a bell? The movie isn’t afraid to borrow from Mel Brooks’ classic comedy, even going so far as to feature Brooks himself in a vocal cameo. Samuel L. Jackson lends his voice to Jimbo, the reluctant mentor who instructs Hank in the ways of the samurai. Jackson brings his trademark charisma to the character, though he’s sadly not allowed to bring his trademark profanity to this PG outing. The training montages provide some real chuckles, particularly as Hank repeatedly fails to accomplish the simplest of tasks. The animation works, but it is not impressive in any way. The action scenes are filled with frenetic energy, and the character designs are cute enough to make some toys. It does not reach the animation highs of even Pixar or Illumination but works well enough for its audience. The world-building aspect feels a little flimsy—it really is just feudal Japan with cats alongside a few modern jokes thrown in for good measure. What I did find surprising was how the film tackled the themes of prejudice and acceptance. Sure, it is a children’s film and some things are dumbed down, but there is something relatable to Hank experiencing a world that is almost literally built for cats and not dogs. The movie doesn’t shy away from showing how communities can fear outsiders based on stereotypes rather than actual experience. When Hank finally earns respect through hard work and sacrifice, it hits a little deeper than I expected. The villain, Ika Chu (voiced by Ricky Gervais), is a power-hungry cat who wants to destroy the village. His schemes are predictable, but Gervais brings enough sneering energy to make him entertaining. The supporting cast includes George Takei and Michelle Yeoh, who both deliver in their smaller roles. The humor is hit-or-miss. For every clever joke or sight gag that lands, there’s another that feels recycled from better movies. And yes, there are plenty of cat and dog jokes, including some questionable litter box humor that had the kids in my screening howling while the parents groaned. “Paws of Fury” is held back, despite its overall charm, by uneven pacing and a sloppy sense of identity it can’t seem to shake. It doesn’t know if it wants to be a sincere martial arts story or a more absurdist comedy. This dilemma generates a drag in the middle before the action picks up again during the finale. At times, it feels as if the creative team is scared to lean entirely into either the heartfelt theme or the wacky comedic approach. Regardless, the last third of the film shows us some decent action and some emotional payoff. Funny enough, Hank’s arc from outcast to hero follows an archetypal path, but Cera’s earnest voice performance sells his journey. The message of not judging others by their appearance, but rather their character may not be subtle, but they deeply invest enough heart into the moral to avoid feeling preachy. For Black viewers, there’s something interesting about watching a film that borrows so heavily from “Blazing Saddles”—a movie famous for its bold commentary on racism—but filters it through cute animals and kid-friendly jokes. The metaphor about prejudice isn’t perfect, but it’s accessible enough for young audiences to grasp without being insulting to their intelligence. Is “Paws of Fury” breaking new ground? Nope. Does it entertain for 97 minutes? Mostly yes. The movie knows what it is—a summer animated feature designed to keep kids engaged while throwing in enough references for parents to appreciate. It doesn’t reach the heights of the best animated films that work equally well for all ages, but it’s far from the bottom of the barrel. “Paws of Fury” is a movie to consider for a watch with younger family members: A few laughs, some acceptable action, and a nice message about acceptance. But don’t expect it to linger after the credits roll. For the parents wondering about content: the violence is cartoonish, the potty humor is frequent but not excessive, and there’s nothing too scary for most kids. The themes of prejudice are handled well and will produce some good conversations with your children down the road. Overall, “Paws” of Fury: The Legend of Hank” is “6 out of 10. It won’t be the animated movie darling Paramount was hoping to create, but it’s a fun ride with a kind heart ferreted away under its puffy fur. The voice work of Samuel L. Jackson and Michael Cera adds to the material that could have been easily dismissed in weaker hands. The big pic, if you are looking for some family fun, it’s worth a watch, but don’t go to the theater thinking you’re in for greatness. This legend may not stand the test of time, but it will keep you fun for an afternoon.
OUR RATING – A THOUGHT-PROVOKING 6
MEDIA
- Genre – Family
- Street date
- Digital – August 16, 2022
- Blu-Ray/DVD – October 18, 2022
- Video – 1080p
- Screen size – 2.39:1
- Sound – English: DTS-HD MA 5.1
- Subtitles – English SDH, Spanish, French
Extras
- Cool Cats and One Hot Dog— Meet Hank (Michael Cera), Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson) and their nemesis Ika Chu (Ricky Gervais) plus more hilarious characters!
- In the Drawing Room with Director Rob Minkoff—Learn to draw the characters with director Rob Minkoff.
- Giving Voice to PAWS OF FURY: The Legend of Hank – Voice cast Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, and Ricky Gervais share behind-the-scenes fun and a sneak peek at what happens during voiceover sessions.