Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

I like the books but this casting is way off line: Ricki Lake is good in some things but the character in the book is a thin, not traditionally feminine farmer, which is not her forte. I never believed that the characters who supposedly have a long-standing relationship even vaguely knew each other and the movie never really came together.

And maybe I missed it but did they ever explain why they stuck poor Bruce McGill as Rick with an incredibly thick Southern accent and many other characters have one too and yet Ricki Lake as Harry, who was supposedly born and raised in the same area, has no Southern accent at all?

This picture left me longing for a nice, hot bowl of Special Kitty. Not a bad little movie, but probably more geared for the young set. The animals were sooooo cute, and just sooooo smart as they went about solving a murder that even the police were having a problem with. The one big thing that kept this from being an Academy Award winner, in my humble opinion, was sexy Tom Jones singing "What's New Pussycat". I can just hear ol' Tom's robust platinum throated vocal chords warbling and moaning out those treasured lyrics...."what's new pussycat, woa woa woa woa...what's new pussycat, woa woa woa woa wooooooaaaaaaa."

"Murder, She Purred" was a cute movie, combining elements of several of Rita Mae Brown's Mrs. Murphy mystery novels (though mostly it used the plot of "Rest in Pieces"). The animals (a cat and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi) were lots of fun to watch, and the human actors weren't too bad either. Not great art, but a fun little family movie.

I had no idea this existed!! I have so many of the books. My mother and I watched it this morning, it was SO cute!!! Exactly what I wanted. The same feel as the books and very enjoyable to watch. I definitely recommend!!

The talking animals could have sunk it but they aren't the main focus. Lake is perfectly cast and plays alongside the whole southern ensemble well making you think she could have easily worked in a prestige film, say directed by Robert Altman. The movie has an authentic character to it with its location, staging, and acting, that is realistic and low key. That brings us to the animals. Actually a nice touch, like okay, it could be a complete farce, but somehow this is a serious talking animals film, they fit right in the ensemble. I watched the film for Johnny Cage (actor Ashby), but then I kind of shrug and go... yeah, it's not as exciting as I thought that Johnny Cage is there. The YouTube video rip showed all these holiday 90s commercials from the VHS tape it ripped from, which was a complete mind trip. The conventions at the time had a lot of dutch angles and wide angle lenses, just a tad more creative than what we get today. At the same time it is the beginning of the end with the relentless drive to get you to consume.