I want to see them star in something much more substantial than a skin cream commercial
Cats are natural hunters, and many of their pranks are a manifestation of their hunting and exploratory instincts. Their antics, though sometimes frustrating, are an integral part of their natural behavior.In 'Cat Man,' the main protagonist of the story is an adorable cat whom all viewers grow fond of and only wish to see him truly transform into a human being and develop a loving relationship with his owner.
Bathed in a dreamy domestic atmosphere, it's a story of games and romps with plenty of cuddles and displays of affection. Narrated at times from the perspective of an intelligent and cynical white cat with huge black eyes, matted fur, and hoop earrings dangling from his ears, and at other times from that of his owner, a tall, handsome, intuitive, and kind man, the audience gets the impression that a cat has transformed into a peculiar young man to get his owner's attention. Under a sense of constant play and fun, the line between kitty and human blurs, while one causes trouble and the other also hopes to get away with it.
I'd like to say here that I love the way one of the characters wears earrings, something rarely seen in BL dramas. From a psychological perspective, men who choose to wear earrings do so as a way to assert their identity and differentiate themselves. While some still associate this practice with femininity, for many it represents an act of self-definition, challenging traditional gender expectations.
In this vertically filmed Thai web miniseries, which follows the premise that cat owners see their pets as people, for the character played by Pentaii Natthanit Praditthan ('My Cherie Amour', 2024), her cat Shelby is much more than that.
In just over 10 minutes, the viewer witnesses not only the human protagonist's quest to provide a nurturing environment for his pet.
You will also discover Gap Jakarin Puribhat ('The Sign', 2024), subtly and skillfully showing on screen the personality of cats, their playful, fearful, anxious, territorial, curious and cheeky nature, due to the boredom they easily suffer and the craving for attention that these domestic animals experience.
It's hard for the owner not to get angry every time he discovers Shelby destroying the furniture, repeatedly kneading and pressing his paws on a soft surface, throwing flowerpots and vases to the floor, climbing shelves and heights, chasing shiny objects that roll on the floor, waking him up when he tries to rest, showing his attraction to houseplants or boxes in search of comfort and safety in closed spaces, or causing accidents that force him to use skin cream. But instead of scolding him, he looks for the alternative of distracting him, paying a lot of attention to him and playing with him, with an additional element: one challenges the other, and vice versa.
And who can resist that serene and distant facade, which in reality hides a mischievous, curious, and playful being capable of some of the most unexpected and fun pranks? Although I would have liked to see Shelby in other feline facets, such as the cats' love of playing with water, playing with shadows and moving lights, or showing the mischievous behavior of felines during the night, when they take advantage of humans' sleeping hours to explore and play, it is commendable to recognize that the two characters convince while they overcome their differences and face everyday situations for anyone who has a cat as a pet.
On a creative level, since there's no dialogue, we hear the human voice and the thoughts of the two characters. In addition, the music and the sounds of the cat purring or meowing, or the sounds that arise as a result of its mischief, provide the audiovisual rhythm. The emotional and cheerful music, one of my favorite parts, manages to express how the characters feel.
Regarding the shots, the camera simply follows the characters and gets very close to them. It may begin with a close-up, but then cuts to a long shot and back again, creating a very complicated choreography with the characters and the camera.
This isn't the first time Gap and Pentaii have worked together. They both played a supporting couple in the 2024 GL series "The Secret of Us."
I'd like to see these two star in something much more substantial than a commercial collaboration or a skin cream ad.
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