Movie Review: Saving Mango – A Cat’s Story

by

As a cat lover who has spent countless hours observing and admiring the enigmatic nature of felines, I found “Saving Mango: A Cat’s Story” to be a heartwarming and thought-provoking journey. While it may not be a perfect film, its experimental style, combined with the genuine performances from both human and feline actors, makes it a unique addition to the genre of talking pet movies.

As a fan, I found this charming indie throwback adventure comedy-drama to be humble yet rich in its storytelling. At times, it was intriguing, delightful, and thought-provoking, making it a truly engaging watch.

As a film enthusiast who’s particularly fond of movies featuring talking pets, it’s quite uncommon to come across ones that lean towards suspenseful drama instead of the usual adventure comedy. Contrary to its soft-spoken title, Saving Mango: A Cat’s Story, this film strays closer to the narrative style of Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey>. This is not just a heartwarming cat tale; it’s an authentic portrayal that challenges our perceptions about cats. In light of the modest team behind this movie, Saving Mango stands out as a remarkable cinematic achievement.

In a typical household, Mango, a lively house cat, finds out that his family won’t be returning home. Following a car accident, the cat waits by the window in anticipation of their return, but they sadly do not come back. With no one else to depend on, he learns to take care of himself, discovering ways to find food for survival. The movie chronicles his journey, portraying poignant scenes of sorrow and optimism as he navigates life alone.

In this movie, we see events from the point of view of a stray cat named Mango, who narrates his thoughts aloud. Over the course of 120 days, the film was made using an innovative method with the help of an adoptive cat, Simba. Surprisingly, Simba became involved in telling Mango’s story, and many of his unplanned actions significantly impacted the storyline, resulting in unexpected and joyful scenes.

In this production, we occasionally frame shots from a cat’s perspective, filled with visual elements that would likely captivate a feline friend. This modest project exudes a sense of awe and wonder. With a small team, we manage to capture some truly remarkable instances featuring our animal actors. The film, in a way, resembles a nature documentary. Rapid editing maintains an optimistic tone as the narrative unfolds, and the voice of Mango, portrayed by Josh Bloomberg, adds a touch reminiscent of Ryan Reynolds, providing a sense of continuity throughout.

Adapting to this narrative style centered around Mango’s perspective takes some time, as it’s more dialogue-driven than usual. As we follow his day-to-day life and then discover that playtime might actually be hunting time, the gradual change is captivating. The storytelling approach offers a complex, offbeat take on narrative style, making for an engaging but unpredictable reading experience.

In essence, this movie can be seen as a feline adaptation of the classic tale Castaway, where the everyday life of a cat takes center stage. This includes waiting faithfully like Hachiko, as well as being unwittingly thrust into an exhilarating escapade. The film aims to contradict the widespread belief that cats are indifferent and self-absorbed. Mango’s narrative showcases that cats possess the capacity for love, affection, and devotion.

“There’s nothing quite like home.”

The cat ventures beyond its familiar surroundings, embarking on an endeavor where Mango encounters aggressive strays and some peculiar individuals. Instead of being animated, this tale takes a live-action twist that keeps audiences intrigued as the filmmakers aim to construct a smooth and engaging journey filled with humor and tension. Although the dialogue could have been more humorous, the movie showcases an experimental approach, deviating from conventional family-friendly stories.

This maintains an engaging and unexpected flow, with the mood swinging from the tension of suspense to cheerful humor at times. The humor serves as a refreshing break after some more somber moments, but “Saving Mango” can occasionally feel abrupt, as poor Mango is in the hands of unfamiliar people.

In this production, it might seem surprising, but the human actors take a backseat, with Josh Bloomberg and Simba (the lion) handling most of the tasks. Filming animals can be tricky, so the filmmakers had to make alterations during post-production to ensure everything flows smoothly. The selection of shots is both vibrant and enthralling, giving an illusion of a magical atmosphere, but in certain instances, a bit more precision could have been applied.

On a shoestring budget, the filmmakers pulled off an impressive feat with a minimal crew, skillfully weaving this narrative. Hours upon hours of footage were likely filmed to achieve the desired impact and cohesively tell the tale, all while maintaining clarity without sacrificing key themes. While the conversational cat adds charm, the dialogue might have been more judiciously used given the story’s visual narrative.

For Oren Peled and his family, creating “Saving Mango: A Cat’s Story” was a heartfelt endeavor. The nostalgic idea and leading character are engaging, making it seem suitable for a larger budget expansion. If that were the case, the script could potentially retain its lively pace and quirky characterization. As is, this indie production offers an enjoyable, unconventional tale, despite some shortcomings and inconsistencies.

The bottom line: Sweet

Read More

2024-10-23 17:44