Plenty of critics and moviegoers find musical films to be enjoyable experiences filled with singalong moments. Most musicals find a place in people’s hearts while others are cast away forever. 2019’s Cats falls into the latter category. While some stars have distanced themselves from the film, others have embraced it. Respect’s Jennifer Hudson chose to love the panned musical, as several years after it was blasted from every corner of the world, the Oscar winner has decided to defend the movie.
Cats became a punching bag for many film critics and moviegoers upon its release. Whether it was the human-cat hybrids or questionable storyline, the musical film faced many issues out of the stars’ control. Despite the film’s divisiveness, Jennifer Hudson still had fond memories from taking part in it. Given her musical background, Hudson finally chose to speak up for the final product, saying:
You know what? I think it was a bit overwhelming. It’s unfortunate that it was misunderstood. I think later down the line, people will see it differently. But it is something I am still very proud of and grateful to have been a part of. Yeah, I got to be Grizabella the Glamour Cat!
In Jennifer Hudson's mind, Cats will fall into the “so-bad-it’s-good” category in a few years. Could that be The Room and Showgirls knocking? Given its source material, a lot was riding on the musical’s theatrical release. So when it didn’t live up to expectations, musical fans and critics tore it apart. Hopefully Hudson’s thoughts about the film adaptation will translate to others eventually.
Maybe if the tide changes for Cats, moviegoers will finally see the much-talked-about "Butthole Cut." The rumored cut has been a thing of Hollywood lore since the musical film was released. Those involved with the production didn’t help to quell the rumors along with Universal’s response. It even got fans excited to see the Butthole Cut despite some eagle-eyed fans finding some in the film. Maybe one day the film will finally get the cut everyone deserves.
While critics and audiences found many faults with the 2019 musical film, Jennifer Hudson found the experience rewarding. After doing the film, the Respect star admitted to Total Film she was inspired to become a cat mom. Hudson ended up adopting two cats, naming them after Grizabella and Idris Elba’s Macavity. That’s why Hudson’s defense of the maligned film isn’t surprising after she called the experience “emotional and heavy.”
At least Jennifer Hudson found Cats to be rewarding and life-changing in several ways. The actress' outlook may or may not rub off on others as the film continues to live on. If you want to see the butthole-less version of Cats, you can catch it on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
