Co-written and directed by Christopher Jenkins (a Disney alum who counts “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” amongst his credit), “10 Lives” makes for an entertaining and simply digestible outlier at this yr’s Sundance Movie Pageant. The pc-animated story of a cute however lazy cat — think about Garfield however a lot cuddlier — who retains coming again in numerous kinds, “10 Lives” is hardly the primary kid-focused toon to premiere in Park Metropolis (final yr introduced “The Superb Maurice,” which quietly went on to develop into one of many 2023 version’s greater field workplace earners). Nonetheless, it’s most likely not what most individuals think about once they hear the phrases “Sundance film.”

First launched in feline type, Beckett (voiced by Mo Gilligan) is adopted by a scientist named Rose (Simone Ashley) when she almost runs him over along with her automobile. Rose is engaged on a postgraduate dissertation specializing in discovering methods to save lots of the world’s bee inhabitants. Her boss, Professor Craven (Invoice Nighy), tries to sabotage her venture for his personal nefarious causes. Feeling jealous of Rose’s assistant/boyfriend Larry (Dylan Llewwellyn), Beckett will get himself in a lot bother, shedding his ninth life within the course of. Fortunate for him, a kindly angel (Sophie Okonedo) provides the cat 10 extra possibilities to make it proper, be much less egocentric and win Rose again.

Whereas that high-concept premise absolutely sounds schematic (and barely macabre) to adults, youthful audiences ought to discover it enjoyable counting down the ten lives. Each time Beckett is reincarnated, he seems as a brand new animal in a unique scenario. Children can watch him develop into a horse, a cockroach and a parrot, and so forth. Nevertheless it’s not till Beckett morphs right into a canine that the true enjoyable begins. Jenkins and his co-writers, Karen Wengrod and Ken Cinnamon, mine many amusing conditions from the animosity between cats and canine. Regardless of which species they like, pet homeowners will giggle with recognition at this amusing comparability.

However “10 Lives” is about extra than simply hilarious eventualities; the film additionally has greater themes on its thoughts. For instance, there’s a message about sustainability and local weather change. Rose’s analysis on bee life conservation mines the concept of all species coming collectively to hold the burden of protecting the earth alive. These concepts may stream unnoticed by youthful audiences, but they offer the movie a deeper resonance. “10 Lives” additionally has a subplot that will be proper at house in a third-rate James Bond knockoff: Craven’s efforts to undermine Rose and change the world’s bee inhabitants with animatronic bugs. It’s absurd and doesn’t at all times make sense, however permits the film’s actual star to shine brightly.

Nighy brings down the home on a number of events with an uproariously ridiculous efficiency. His voice slippery like a lizard, the actor makes each intonation clear and significant but additionally stuffed with mockery, taking part in the character whereas additionally making enjoyable of him. Listening to that stately clipped voice utter the pharse “Dickie numb bum,” will probably be arduous to prime. Different voice performances are on discover.

Maybe Nighy runs away with the movie as a result of all the opposite parts are a lot much less hanging. The animation appears like a standard throwback to hand-drawn movies, whereas someway additionally nameless with no distinguishing options. The expressions on the animals’ faces — significantly the unique Beckett earlier than his many transformations — are extra expressive than the human faces. The script borrows from so many tropes that it loses the narrative thread. Pop star Zayn Malik, who additionally wrote songs for “10 Lives,” seems as a pair of candy goons who half-heartedly assist Craven. However the characters will not be particularly humorous and really feel so peripheral to the story that they could possibly be eradicated with out affecting something. Malik’s songs are catchy, at the very least, even when most are relegated to the top credit.

Gilligan and Ashley play nicely off one another, giving free and free performances. Ashley’s voice is appropriately full of heat, whereas Gilligan provides an intriguing scratch that makes him plausible as a cat. At Sundance, “10 Lives” might appear to be an oddity, but it surely’s made with sufficient panache (from Nighy particularly) to carry out nicely within the wider world.