Top Cat
By TIM DAVID HARVEY
6 Episodes. Starring: Ricky Gervais, Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley & Diane Morgan. Screenplay: Ricky Gervais. Director: Ricky Gervais. On: Netflix.
Or is that, "top tw@"!? Because look what the Ricky Gervais show dragged in. An animated black comedy about cats on Netflix. A six-episode mini-series that claws at social commentary, dark sarcasm and an inspired irreverent humour that the actor/writer/director milks for all it's worth. In-between doing exactly the same thing on his stand-up specials for this streaming service as a classic comedian. Around 15-minutes of fame each episode, the Brylcreem and black t-shirts are ditched for a Garfield like character you could tab as the love-kitten of Bagpuss and the Cheshire cat from 'Alice In Wonderland'. This one will have you grinning all the way to the saucer, too.
You'll cry laughing and spill your milk as Ricky brings along the lion's share of his 'After Life' gang (Tom Basden, Andrew Brooke, David Earl, Kerry Godliman, Jo Hartley and Diane Morgan) for the darkest comedy that will also tug at those heartstrings when it's not scratching what remains of its balls in-front of the telly for the title-card. This fat cat and his crew of c##ts (oh, sorry, that's cats, but then again, if you watch this show long enough) take it to Tom, Felix, Sylvester, Tigger, Lion-O, and any other kitty they'll say hello to. They're greeeeat. Even if this is not the animation your parents want you to see, swimming with adults and lapping up all the swear jar coins it knocks off the shelf. Because after all...it's a cat.
Tom Basden is Niles Crane in 'Frasier' perfect as Ponce, a sophisticated Chartreux who would rather go by his actual given name, Rupert, but is bearing the brunt of Ricky's Bengal, with tiger blood, and cheese wiz, in his veins. Just like he did in the 'After Life'. 'Derek' star Kerry Godliman, the on-screen musing apple (or is that fish?) of Gervais' eye, and the unmistakable voice of Diane Morgan also clean their fur up nice, but it's 'Sherlock Holmes' and 'The IT Crowd' actor Andrew Brooke's rough and tumble cat that will claw your eyes out. Looking like a big bouncer in tuxedo black and white. Add the ratty Havana Brown of Kev himself, David Earl, and you're bound to Puke. Especially when he tries to get a bee to sting him. Because bee stings make everything swell up twice their size...everything! But if all that's all a little too much, just wait until a moving moment between Ricky and his on-screen feline mother, played by no other than Sonia from 'EastEnders', Natalie Cassidy.
Purr-fection comes with the great Jo Hartley ('Dead Man's Shoes', 'This Is England', 'Adolescence') who joins the Gervais gang as a 'Puss In Boots' doe-eyed, cute as a button kitten who just wants to find her way home. And yes, this Derek, Shush Creative and Blink Industries classic cartoon is part 'Homeward Bound' too, making its way up and down the estate. TESCO even has a cameo, because every little...oh, never mind. This sweet and sour sitcom, with a sensational soundtrack, gross-out gags and more roasts than a Golden Globes monologue, is exactly the "fat p####" James Corden ordered ("he was in 'Cats', too"). Hunting for mice and searching for strokes from the dear elderly. The catnip scene is a trip, too. Critics may claw and paw, but the 'Fawlty Towers' of 'Monty Python's' very own legendary John Cleese loves it. Just don't mention the reviews. Then it's in the bag!
Further Clawing: 'After Life', 'The Ricky Gervais Show', 'Top Cat'.
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