AFRICAN CATS (USA 2011) ***
Directed by Keith Scholey

Another Disney wildlife adventure opens April 22 to coincide with Earth Day 2011.  AFRICAN CATS is more entertaining and gripping than the other water Disney films (OCEANS and EARTH) as AFRICIAN CATS has a stronger narrative with a plot involving a mother keeping a family together.

‘Mother and child’ appears to be the theme in AFRICAN CATS. The stories intertwine between two cat families in Africa.  One is Mara and her ageing lion mother as they strive to be accepted in their pride of lions while the other is a single mother cheetah, Sita priming her cubs for survival.  The dedication of the mothers is extremely moving.

As in all wild life films, the killing of another animal (predator versus prey) comes into question.  In AFRICAN CATS, the impact is lessened with the reason that food is needed for the cubs or the cubs will starve.  Scholey also keeps the blood mainly off screen.  One killing of a gazelle occurs behind a mound, and if any blood need be shown, it is only around the mouths of the lions.  Oddly enough, no tigers are featured in this film.

Most of the scary parts appear off screen as well. When the voiceover informs that mother Sita has lost three cubs to the hyenas (not shown at all) or that Kali, the fierce lion will return for another fight, the audience can only sit back in fear.

Scholey’s film contains a few scenes with birds dancing.  But generally, there are fewer detached distractions that in the other Disneynature films EARTH and OCEANS.

Oscar nominee Samuel L. Jackson narrates with a full resonating voice, carefully pronouncing all his syllables, sometimes too obviously.

AFRICAN CATS is entirely shot in the reserved national park of Kenya where they live and breed.  Scholey’s film is pretty serious stuff.  The only humour occurs at the end with a few childish mock end credits.