Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

A Street Cat Named Bob Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 17, 2024

In what might be considered "a sign of the times," there are more than a few people who have made names for themselves -- and tremendous amounts of money -- by posting pictures of their cat(s) on the Internet or filming their antics around the house, throwing them up on YouTube, and watching the likes, subscribes, and the dollars flow in. Cats can be big business -- given that all the stars align and what not -- but they can also be more than that. They can be companions, of course, but they can also be miracles. It's the latter that concerns A Street Cat Named Bob, a heartwarming true story about a homeless man who finds renewed life when an act of kindness serendipitously leads him to a beautiful orange cat that becomes a money making attraction and a companion but, more important that any of those, affords him one final, and needed, opportunity to rediscover the joys of life and reconnect with both his own heart and with the hearts of the people in the world around him.

James Bowen (Luke Treadaway) is a homeless and drug-addicted musician playing for pennies (or even someone else’s lunch leftovers) on the streets of London. He scavenges through dumpsters for scraps of food as he must, which is often, or begging for lower prices for food at restaurants (how sad when a restaurant employee ruins the food rather than just give it to him for the price he asked…talk about a lose-lose for everyone), just to stay alive, which sadly is usually just for the next hit. When he overdoses, he wakes up in the hospital with a stern warning: don’t repeat the same mistake, or he will die. Things are grim, and there appears to be little hope when even his father (Anthony Head) and his stepmother (Beth Goddard) refuse to take him in.

James' fortunes change when his kindhearted drug addiction counselor, Val (Joanne Froggatt), sees something in him and finds him a place to live. It's not luxurious, but it's got a roof, a bed, a shower, and a kitchen. While settling in, James discovers an orange cat rummaging through the apartment. He takes a liking to it, names it Bob, and takes him to a free veterinary clinic to get help with a wound. James gives all the money he has for Bob's medication, but it proves to be a good investment. The two bond, and as James begins to play his guitar again for money, Bob gains him increasingly large crowds. As small bits of money come in, the count adds up, allowing James opportunities to get back on his feet. He makes new friends and even finds a new love interest in the animal loving Betty (Ruta Gedmintas). Can James stay clean and continue to turn his life around, or will his newfound life path with Bob be short-lived?

The film is based on the true-life accounts of James and Bob (which have also been recorded in the book of the same name) and offers a genuinely sincere and satisfying look at a mutually beneficial relationship. Bob certainly helps James earn a few more dollars, and added notoriety, but it's not just about the opportunity to finally afford some food: it's about James rediscovering his place and purpose in life. Bob could be said to be a "rescue," but in many ways it's James who is the real rescue. The film offers a well-rounded yet fairly concise narrative exposition of the story. It's well acted (even the cats that play Bob, as notoriously difficult to train as cats may be, are always impressive on the screen) and satisfyingly assembled, yielding a film that is certainly not a classic but one that satisfies for a soulful look at the human, and feline, condition.

A Street Cat Named Bob Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

A Street Cat Named Bob releases on Blu-ray with a good looking 1080p transfer. The film was digitally shot and not with the highest grade gear, but even so, the smaller production quality still yields a perfectly serviceable, and often agreeable, presentation. Details are suitably crisp, with the frame capturing complex London city street elements with impressive complexity. Facial features like pores and hairs are nicely defined though certainly lacking the utmost in precision characteristics that higher end digital provides. Still, clarity is solid and the image is clearly thriving about as best it can at 1080p. Even cat fur and feline facial features are pleasantly complex. Colors are fine, offering nicely vivid punch and aggression, especially out on city streets during the daytime where colorful elements are nicely defined. Bob's orange fur looks true to life as well, and various examples of brighter clothing, or even the scarf one lady knits for Bob, stand out nicely. Black levels are satisfactory in lower light and nighttime shots. Whites are decent. Skin tones look natural enough. The image does see some pervasive noise throughout, and it can get dense even in moderately good light. Otherwise, the source is in fine shape and there are no serious encode issues of note, either. This is not a highlight reel Blu-ray, but this 1080p image satisfies for what it is.

A Street Cat Named Bob Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

A Street Cat Named Bob meows onto Blu-ray with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack; there is no lossless option to be found. The presentation is, much like the video, adequate, clearly lacking the excellence from better audio engineering and a lossless audio encode, but all things considered the track is just fine. Music is agreeably clear and nicely spaced along the front while offering mild surround elements. The track presents decent city atmosphere at several junctures, and while not absolutely immersive and lifelike, the general sense of space usually comes across as healthy enough. A few more impactful moments of surround engagement are apparent, especially during some satisfying rainfall downpour effects which pleasantly fill the stage in the first few minutes. For the most part, this is a dialogue intensive film, and the spoken word comes through with enough clarity to please, even in the lossy encode, while also being well prioritized and center positioned for the duration. This is in no way a memorable track, but it is pleasantly serviceable in all ways.

A Street Cat Named Bob Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of A Street Cat Named Bob contains a few brief extras. No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.

• Introducing Bob (1080p, 1:36): Briefly recalling the story.
• The Story of A Street Cat Named Bob (1080p, 1:36): The real James Bowen shares more of his story.
• Slide Show (1080i): A series of still photos set to music. Photos auto-advance.
• Trailer (1080i, 2:01).

A Street Cat Named Bob Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I was saddened to read that the real Bob died in 2020 after being struck by a car. He certainly lived a full life and brought life to a man in desperate need of life. This telling of that story is touching and warm, heartfelt and comfortable, a film that explores the dark side of life but offers hope and heart as it explores the human condition with a little help from a feline. It's honest and quite watchable. The Blu-ray is solid enough, offering acceptable 1080p video, a decent enough 5.1 lossy soundtrack, and a few extras. Recommended!