Naoimh Morgan, Francesca Hayward and Danny Collins star in a scene from the movie "Cats." The Catholic News Service classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. (CNS/Universal)

By Catholic News Service

The smash-hit Andrew Lloyd Webber stage musical, based on T.S. Eliot’s collection of verse, is given the big-screen treatment. The result is, essentially, a big, brash, over-the-top dance party, directed by Tom Hooper.

One fateful evening, an abandoned cat (Francesca Hayward) is adopted by a group of felines who have gathered to see which of their ilk will be chosen by their matriarch (Judi Dench) to ascend to a new plane of existence. A master criminal (Idris Elba) tries to rig the election, while a shabby has-been (Jennifer Hudson) hides in the shadows, lamenting her lost glamor status. Essentially a series of grand musical numbers stitched together by slender plot threads, the choreography is first-rate, but some viewers may find the computer-generated costumes too lifelike and unsettling.

Occasional rude humor, scary images. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II – adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Click here for full reviews of this and other current movies by Catholic News Service.