Judi Dench Calls Cats Film a Waste of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Talent

Dench’s Memoir Reveals Her View

Veteran actress Judi Dench is set to publish a memoir titled Is It Too Late to Make a Run For It? In the book she reflects on the 2019 film adaptation of the musical Cats. Dench, who portrayed Old Deuteronomy, describes the project as a "waste of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s goodwill and talent." Her comments come as part of a broader conversation about why the film failed to connect with audiences.

Why the Film Fell Short

Several factors combined to create a perfect storm of disappointment. The most cited issues include visual style, narrative cohesion, and the decision to rely heavily on CGI for feline transformations.

Visual Style

The movie opted for a hyper realistic look that many critics felt was uncanny. Instead of embracing the theatrical charm of the stage production, the film presented a glossy, artificial world that left viewers unsettled.

Narrative Cohesion

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original score is a collection of songs that loosely tie together a night in a junkyard. Translating that structure to a feature film required a stronger plot, yet the screenplay offered only a thin thread linking the musical numbers.

Use of CGI

The decision to render the cats with computer generated fur and facial expressions was intended to be groundbreaking. In practice it resulted in a visual experience that many described as "creepy" and distracting.

Cast and Production Challenges

The film boasted an impressive roster of talent, including Taylor Swift, Idris Elba, and Jennifer Hudson. Despite the star power, the production faced logistical hurdles that impacted performance quality.

Extensive motion capture sessions limited actors’ ability to interact naturally.
Long hours in heavy prosthetic makeup caused fatigue and reduced rehearsal time.
Multiple director changes during pre‑production created inconsistent vision.

Dench noted that even seasoned performers struggled to adapt to the demanding technical environment, which contributed to a sense of detachment on screen.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Involvement

Andrew Lloyd Webber served as a producer and retained creative control over the musical elements. While his compositions remain iconic, the film’s execution did not honor the original material’s spirit.

In a 2020 interview with the BBC, Webber expressed disappointment but remained hopeful that future adaptations could learn from the missteps.

Critical and Audience Reception

Upon release, the movie received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Critics highlighted the lack of emotional depth and the unsettling visual effects.

Rotten Tomatoes reported a rating below 10 percent, marking it as one of the lowest‑scoring releases of the decade.
The Guardian described the film as "a misfire that squanders a beloved musical".
Audience surveys indicated that many viewers felt alienated by the digital cat designs.

Box office numbers reflected the critical consensus, with the film failing to recoup its production budget within the first month.

Legacy and Lessons for Future Adaptations

Dench’s candid remarks add a valuable perspective to the ongoing debate about how best to translate stage works to the screen. Her observations suggest several guiding principles for future projects:

Respect the original tone and avoid over‑reliance on technology that may distract from storytelling.
Provide actors with sufficient rehearsal time in realistic settings to preserve performance authenticity.
Ensure that the narrative structure is adapted to meet cinematic expectations, rather than merely transplanting stage sequences.

Industry insiders point to the film as a cautionary tale. As one analyst wrote for The Guardian, successful adaptations must balance reverence for the source material with innovative storytelling techniques.

Looking ahead, the conversation sparked by Dench’s memoir may encourage producers to engage more closely with original creators and performers during the adaptation process. The hope is that future musical films will capture the magic of live theatre without compromising on cinematic quality.