A young man named James Bowen lives in London. James is a controversial drug addict, but he has recovered completely from drugs in circumstances he did not fully expect after severe suffering. After that, James begins a different life when he meets the ginger cat in the streets of London, wounded and suffering. It seems that life will be quite different for James in dealing with the cat, which will change James' life for the better.
This is one of those unfailingly nice, middle-of-the-road movies that always has its heart in the right place, even if its head is sometimes elsewhere.
There's a telly-ish feel to much of A Street Cat Named Bob, an attempt to sanitise life on the streets... But it's impossible to watch a film about a happy-ending story like James and Bob's without a warm glow.
A rewardingly unassuming, tough and tender portrait of a drug-addicted London busker whose ill-fated life takes a surprising turn after a ginger tabby turns up in his kitchen.
Spottiswoode keeps the vibe gritty and authentic, which is in itself remarkable for a film about a young man and a cat. Tough and tender, and a massive, welcome February surprise.