Spy Cat Parent Guide

Marnie (Alexandra Neldel) is a spoiled housecat obsessed with detective shows on TV. She wants nothing more than to solve crimes and go on adventures, but she isn’t allowed to leave the house. When a string of burglaries occurs in her quiet town, Marnie finds herself in the outside world for the first time. Teaming up with a group of misfit animals, Marnie must use all of her detective skills to solve the crime and save the town.

I finished watching this film about an hour prior to my writing this, and I’ll be honest I’ve already forgotten most of it. Spy Cat is so forgettable that I predict I will wake up tomorrow with absolutely no memory of it. That’s not to say it’s bad, however. The animation, acting, and writing are all acceptable but not exceptional. I didn’t find myself frustrated or confused as I often am with terrible movies, I was just bored. The best adjective I can think of is bland. It’s not funny or heartwarming but it’s also not unpleasant.

The only factor that does give some sway to my opinion is the level of violence. The slapstick elements are about average for this genre; however, the use of guns did make me uncomfortable. This is, of course, purely personal opinion and every family is going to have a different view on the use of guns in children’s media. Realistic guns are shown, aimed, and fired at multiple points in the story, both by civilians and police officers. No one is actually shot or hurt, but the intentions are clear. Depending on your own comfort level and the age of your children, you may want to take that into account as you decide whether or not to watch this movie.

Overall, I give Spy Cat a solid shrug and a “meh”. Outside of the use of guns as mentioned above, it’s a bland, middle of the road film. There are no outstanding features but there are also no creative atrocities. If you can find it streaming for free it’s not the worst thing to put on in the background, but don’t expect to be engrossed.