Rating: 
Summary: Three stars because the original was fun
Review: Even a dated story could have had nostalgic charm, however this filming makes no attempt. I feel the quality of acting and development of personalities probably make the viewer wonder why they should care about most of the characters. The viewer(particularly the viewer who did not see the play or read the book) wonders what happened on August 22, what a bangamarathon is, and why is LA celebrating NY time for new years eve? Except for a decent job by the drop-in burglar, why are these people on the screen? Now I have to dig out my old copy of the book to reaffirm my appreciation of a quaint piece of my past.
Rating: 
Summary: SAL MINEO would have approved! Thank You Steve Guttenberg
Review: I am the owner of the official website of the great, late actor, Sal Mineo.I rented this as Sal was starring in the hit play shortly before his murder, which is now this film, and I was curious.I am impressed! Lombardo Boyer plays the role Sal was playing, and gave me an idea of what Sal's performance was like in the play.Boyer is great! Steve Guttenberg is great here too, who also adapted this to film and directed it.I am surprised it wasn't released by a bigger studio!The credits dedicate the film to SAL MINEO!! Bless you, Steve.
Rating: 
Summary: Oy, What a Disappointment
Review: It's been years since I read the book, but this film brought back none of the good feelings I remember from that experience. The usually charming Steve Guttenberg is annoying beyond belief. Sadly, his directing debut is even worse. Pacing is agonizingly slow, editing is all wrong. The apartment, which is described in the film's own dialogue as a dump, is gorgeous. The whole thing makes no sense. Only my fond memories of the book kept me watching to the end, hoping against hope it would get better. It never did. The best thing in the movie is A. J. Benza as the would-be rapist Carmine. During his two brief scenes the screen pulses with energy. You know you're in trouble when the best thing in the movie is the rapist.
Rating: 
Summary: Just a Little Kinky Dinky Around the Edges
Review: James Kirkwood once described his play as "a little kinky dinky."
Over 30 years ago, when it first appeared, indeed it was quite a
shock for audiences. Rather than maintain its contemporary 1970 look, Guttenberg's version updates: instead of cold New York City, we have hot L.A. on New Year's Eve. Instead of a crude Italian cat burglar, we have a Latino version. That the changes update, but do not alter the original intent may be testimony to the basic symbols that Kirkwood used in his catty, semi-autobiographical tale. The author also once noted that, once the original is sold to another, the story belongs to them. From that view, Guttenberg has done much that ought to be complimented, esp. the casting of Lombardo Boyer as the burglar. Casting himself as a Woody Allen sort on steroids was not the best move. Jimmy Zoole was meant to be charming and likeable, even under adverse conditions. On stage Keir Dullea conveyed that. As played by Steve Guttenberg, the character of Jimmy Zoole does not become likeable at all. As a former actor, Jimmy Kirkwood wrote characters that actors could play with elan...and nearly every performer has that chance to shine. Guttenberg is to be commended for finally bringing Kirkwood's story to the screen. The road to becoming a film was cursed; it had so many false starts, including the murder of Sal Mineo who was to direct the original film and star, as he rehearsed the play in Los Angeles. Jim Kirkwood himself intended to direct a film version as late as 1988. For Kirkwood's legion of fans, the film is a welcome renewal of Kirkwood's work; for others, it may be just another cult film.
Rating:
Summary: "That Darn Cat Burglar!"
Review: James Kirkwood's 1972 cult novel "P.S. Your Cat is Dead" is indeed a far-out choice of a story to enjoy resurrection in 2003, and it certainly was an interesting project for actor Steve Guttenberg ("Police Academy", "Can't Stop the Music") to choose for his directorial debut. The book was adapted into a successful stage play in 1975, with the late great Sal Mineo ("Rebel Without a Cause") starring in the San Francisco production as the bisexual cat burglar. At that time, the inclusion of a main character in a play who was unapologetically gay or bisexual was considered "daring". Today, aside from any residual shock value in terms of the characters' sexuality, what endures in "PS. Your Cat is Dead" is a twisted, funny, and ultimately emotional story of two troubled men: Jimmy Zoole, a frustrated, unsuccessful actor/writer (Steve Guttenberg); and a bisexual Latino cat burglar named Eddie (Lombardo Boyar). Thanks to an updating of the setting to contemporary L.A., and a successful translation from stage to screen, "P.S. Your Cat is Dead" emerges as the most unique tale of male bondage-- uh... I mean, bond-ING-- to emerge since Brad Pitt and Edward Norton beat the hell out of each other in 1999's "Fight Club". In "P.S. Your Cat is Dead", we meet our two leads as well as other quirky characters throughout the course of New Year's Eve. Steve Guttenberg is just perfect as the scruffy, pushing-40, so-pathetic-it's-funny artist Jimmy, who-- to put it mildly-- isn't looking back at the past year with too many fond memories. His girlfriend Kate is leaving him for another man. His apartment has been burglarized twice, and one of the items stolen was his only handwrtitten copy of his long-gestating book-in-progress. His attempt at 'avant garde' ("That's French for 'can't sell tickets'!", he bemoans.) theater-- specifically, a production of "Hamlet" with puppets-- has failed miserably. To top it off, his beloved cat Tennessee is at the animal hospital, gravely ill. After his ex-girlfriend storms out of his apartment following a humorously nasty fight, Jimmy discovers that a 20-something burglar (Lombardo Boyar) has broken into his home and is hiding under his bed. But Eddie the burglar-- who's also a hustler and performance artist with some serious emotional issues-- is in for a challenge. The fed-up Jimmy progresses from initial discontent to full-blown hysteria... and some mild sadistic traits come out as well! He knocks Eddie unconscious, hog-ties his home invader to the kitchen table, and at one point cuts the seat out of Eddie's pants. As the tense night progresses, the two men play assorted psychological games with each other, with a bare-assed Eddie trying to push Jimmy's buttons (at one point, by gay-baiting him), and Jimmy in turn taunting his prisoner (at one point, by feeding him cat food!). The last draw comes when Jimmy discovers a note left by his Kate which bears the movie's titular bad news: "PS. Your cat is dead." Needless to say, this nearly pushes our frazzled underdog over the edge. The dynamics between Guttenberg and Boyar help us forget that in "P.S. Your Cat is Dead", we're watching what's essentially a two-character play-- with one of the characters spending most of the time face down, tied up on a kitchen table. Filmed plays, as we all know, don't always work; the effect can be claustrophobic and stagy. (Remember 1996's "Faithful" with a tied-up Cher?). However, in "P.S. Your Cat is Dead", a few unique directorial touches as well as some surprises keep the movie going. One of the surprises comes when a trio of gay roughnecks drop by Jimmy's apartment and mistakenly interpret the kitchen table scene as a bondage party. Strapping A.J.Benza plays Jimmy's hypersexed friend Carmine-- sort of a gay, ultra-flamboyant (makeup and all!) version of the thuggish persona that Benza displays as host of the E! "Mysteries and Scandals" TV show. His character is definitely NOT the kind of guy you'd want to meet at a club if you'd had too much to drink! By the end of "P.S.Your Cat is Dead", both Jimmy and Eddie have undergone some level of catharsis, and the ending-- dare I say it-- is surprisingly sweet. But rest assured: until you reach that point, there will be plenty of hysterics, tension, scenery chewing, and black comedy to enjoy! In what might be a cinematic first, Guttenberg runs the closing credits of "P.S. Your Cat is Dead" with video footage of the movie's entire crew, to the well-chosen song "Crystal Blue Persuasion" by Culture Club. Looking forward to Steve Guttenberg's next directorial project!
Rating:
Summary: Poor Jimmy Zoole....
Review: Jimmy (Guttenberg) is having a bad day. Actually, he's having a bad life. His best friend has died, his girlfriend has dumped him, his puppet play has flopped, his cat is in the hospital and his apartment is being used as a discount department store by a local burglar. It's New Year's Eve and Jimmy is at the end of his rope. Thus, we are introduced to the main character from James Kirkwood's (A Chorus Line) novel. Jimmy is dour and sullen, a little too smart for his own good but not smart enough to play the game. A Victim. He's not a sympathetic character and you can't help snickering at him, at points. But, when he captures a burglar in the act of burgling his apartment, he transforms from victim to conqueror and it looks like Jimmy has totally gone off the deep end! This film has some very funny, laugh out loud moments, some parts that are a bit slow and some sections which leave you with your mouth open, in disbelief. The special features section of this DVD includes commentary by Guttenberg, interviews, and trailers, as well as an alternate ending. On it own merits, P.S. Your Cat is Dead is an entertaining story, if, however you are looking for a "by the book" adaptation, you may be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Poor Jimmy Zoole....
Review: Jimmy (Guttenberg) is having a bad day. Actually, he's having a bad life. His best friend has died, his girlfriend has dumped him, his puppet play has flopped, his cat is in the hospital and his apartment is being used as a discount department store by a local burglar. It's New Year's Eve and Jimmy is at the end of his rope. Thus, we are introduced to the main character from James Kirkwood's (A Chorus Line) novel. Jimmy is dour and sullen, a little too smart for his own good but not smart enough to play the game. A Victim. He's not a sympathetic character and you can't help snickering at him, at points. But, when he captures a burglar in the act of burgling his apartment, he transforms from victim to conqueror and it looks like Jimmy has totally gone off the deep end! This film has some very funny, laugh out loud moments, some parts that are a bit slow and some sections which leave you with your mouth open, in disbelief. The special features section of this DVD includes commentary by Guttenberg, interviews, and trailers, as well as an alternate ending. On it own merits, P.S. Your Cat is Dead is an entertaining story, if, however you are looking for a "by the book" adaptation, you may be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: A marginal film version of a great book
Review: Jimmy Zoole is having a bad streak of luck. He's been robbed twice in the past three months, his best friend died, his girlfriend broke up with him on New Year's Eve, and his cat is dead. Things are about to change when the burglar breaks into his apartment again and gets caught by Jimmy. Steve Guttenberg's directing debut is a margianl film at best. The action takes place so fast that there doesn't seem to be enought time to get to know the characters. Shirley Knight does a good job as Jimmy's Aunt Claire, and Lombardo Boyar plays Eddie Tesoro, the burglar, very well. But, anyone who has read the book or viewed the play will be disappointed with some of the character and scene changes. The humor of the book is missing, as well. The DVD does contain an okay commentary, some behind-the-scenes footage and an alternate ending.
Rating:
Summary: A marginal film version of a great book
Review: Jimmy Zoole is having a bad streak of luck. He's been robbed twice in the past three months, his best friend died, his girlfriend broke up with him on New Year's Eve, and his cat is dead. Things are about to change when the burglar breaks into his apartment again and gets caught by Jimmy. Steve Guttenberg's directing debut is a margianl film at best. The action takes place so fast that there doesn't seem to be enought time to get to know the characters. Shirley Knight does a good job as Jimmy's Aunt Claire, and Lombardo Boyar plays Eddie Tesoro, the burglar, very well. But, anyone who has read the book or viewed the play will be disappointed with some of the character and scene changes. The humor of the book is missing, as well. The DVD does contain an okay commentary, some behind-the-scenes footage and an alternate ending.
Rating:
Summary: P.S. Your Movie Stinks!
Review: Just saw a pre-release copy of this last night. It was all the six of us who watched it could do to see the whole thing. Some problems: 1. Jimmy's apartment is described as being in need of cleaning up and also called a dump. What you see on screen is an immaculate apartment that most would love to have. At least have your production designer read the script to see what the apartment is supposed to look like.
2. Technical problems include shoddy blocking, continuity problems during cuts, crossing the imaginery 180 line, and amateurish camera work.
3. Ok, the first two were picky things, but the biggest problem is this movie falls flat on it's face. Attempts at humor fail, characters are not believable, the story is not engaging. I never saw the stage production but my hunch is it MUST have been better than this movie. I suspect much was lost in the adaptation. This one is not even worth renting.
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