Alley Cat
A depressed ex-boxer (Yosuke Kubozuka) self-medicating for the injuries that ended his career finds a stray cat that brightens his day, but she is snatched up by a comical grungy mechanic (Kenji Furuya). Calling each other by the competing names they gave the cat, Maru and Lily, the odd pair is abruptly sucked into a political conspiracy with Saeko (Yui Ichikawa) and her son at the center. Witnessing another injustice in which the economic and social elite prey on the vulnerable, the two strays set off on the road to redemption, or at least peaceful cat ownership. (Fun fact: in addition to acting together in Alley Cat, Yosuke Kubozuka and Kenji “KJ” Furuya released the single “Soul Ship” in 2017. Kubozuka performs as Manji Line and Furuya in the band Dragon Ash.) -JAPAN CUTS: Festival of New Japanese Film
Insights
Plot Summary
Molly, a former military sniper, lives a double life as a club bouncer while secretly battling her past. When a former comrade is murdered, Molly is drawn back into the dangerous world of espionage and betrayal. She must use her deadly skills to uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice before she becomes the next target.
Critical Reception
Alley Cat received a mixed to negative reception from critics and audiences. While some praised its action sequences and the performance of its lead, many found the plot predictable and underdeveloped. The film struggled to find a significant audience and is largely considered an overlooked entry in the action genre.
What Reviewers Say
- The action sequences are competently staged, offering brief moments of excitement.
- The plot suffers from clichés and a lack of originality within the espionage thriller genre.
- Lead actress Hannah New delivers a committed performance, but it's not enough to elevate the material.
Google audience: Information on Google user reviews and ratings for Alley Cat is not readily available or consistently reported.
Fun Fact
The film features a notable supporting performance from the late Tom "Tiny" Lister Jr., known for his iconic role as Deebo in the 'Friday' film series.
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