Editing Cats Don't Dance (section)

=== Critical reaction ===
''Cats Don't Dance'' received a 71% approval rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] based on 24 reviews, with an average rating of 6.5/10. The site consensus reads: "''Cats Don't Dance'', but they should easily entertain all-ages audiences thanks to some colorful animation, sharp humor, and a catchy soundtrack".<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cats_dont_dance |title=Cats Don't Dance (1997)|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=October 15, 2023}}</ref> {{Mc film|62|21|ref=yes|access-date=6 September 2024}} Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

[[Todd McCarthy]] of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote: "Decked out with sharp and colorful design work, some well-drawn characters and six snappy Randy Newman tunes, this first entry from Turner Feature Animation goes down very easily but lacks a hook".<ref>{{cite web |date=March 21, 1997 |last=McCarthy |first=Todd |author-link=Todd McCarthy |title=Film Reviews: Cats Don't Dance |url=https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/cats-don-t-dance-1200449200/ |website=Variety}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film three stars out of four. He wrote the film "is not compelling and it's not a breakthrough, but on its own terms, it works well. Whether this will appeal to kids is debatable; the story involves a time and a subject they're not much interested in. But the songs by Randy Newman are catchy, the look is bright, the spirits are high and fans of Hollywood's golden age might find it engaging".<ref>{{cite news |date=March 28, 1997 |last=Ebert |first=Roger |title=Cats Don't Dance |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/cats-dont-dance-1997 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |via=[[RogerEbert.com]] |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref> John Petrakis, reviewing for the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', noted ''Cats Don't Dance'' would appeal more for adults than children, but provided a good moral lesson on prejudice. He further wrote the film has "the sharp irreverence of the brilliant ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]''. There are plenty of clever asides and witty one-liners, not to mention a few terrific supporting characters".<ref>{{cite news |date=March 26, 1997 |last=Petrakis |first=John |title='Cats Don't Dance' Offers a Timeless Message for Kids, Adults |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1997-03-26-9703260331-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>

[[Lawrence Van Gelder]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' summarized in his review: "While the animated characters, bright colors and an appealing Randy Newman score may keep the children content, ''Cats Don't Dance'' is no saccharine fantasy. Its Hollywood references and dark satire constitute its real strengths".<ref>{{cite news |date=March 26, 1997 |last=Van Gelder |first=Lawrence |title=What Danny the Cat Learns About Hollywood |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/26/movies/what-danny-the-cat-learns-about-hollywood.html |work=The New York Times |page=C18 |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref> Jack Mathews, reviewing for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', described the film as a "startling miscalculation". He next wrote: "It has lots of cute animals, some jaunty Randy Newman songs and solid, if uninspired, animation work. But blending parody and nostalgia about an era half a century removed from the lives of the core audience seems a foolish indulgence".<ref>{{cite news |date=March 16, 1997 |last=Mathews |first=Jack |title='Cats' Tries to Mix Parody and Nostalgia |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-03-26-ca-42048-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref> Rita Kempley of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote the film was "colorful, but unimaginatively drawn".<ref>{{cite news |date=March 1997 |last=Kempley |first=Rita |title='Cats Don't Dance |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/catsdontdance.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref> Also from ''The Washington Post'', Jane Horwitz felt children "won't get the references to old movies or stars like Bette Davis and Clark Gable. Still, the action (however confusing), the music and the characters should hold even toddlers for a while".<ref>{{cite news |date=March 28, 1997 |last=Horwitz |first=Jane |title=The Family Filmgoer |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1997/03/28/the-family-filmgoer/dede7ac9-e891-4be1-a604-7c9a505b93dc/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 1, 2022}}</ref>