Nine Lives 2016

Tom Brand Kevin Spacey is a powerhouse in New York City’s corporate world, whose relentless drive has strained his relationships. His first marriage to Madison has fallen apart, and his adult son David Robbie Amell now works for him, hoping for his approval. Tom lives with his second wife Lara Jennifer Garner and their daughter Rebecca Talitha Bateman, while he pushes forward on a landmark project: FireBrand, the tallest skyscraper in the northern hemisphere that will house his new headquarters. In a dramatic opening sequence, Tom skydives from a plane and lands atop the gleaming tower, even as David remains in the plane, reluctant to take the leap himself.

For Rebecca’s 11th birthday, Tom has long refused to get a cat, but he resolves to surprise her rather than disappoint her. At the quirky Purrkins Pet Shop, the eccentric owner Felix Perkins Christopher Walken tells him a cat chooses its owner, not the other way around. The tomcat who selects him is named Mr. Fuzzypants, and after Felix notes he has used up seven of his nine lives, Tom buys the curious feline and sets off toward home.

On the way back, Tom meets Ian Cox Teddy Sears, a top manager in charge of the new building, and an argument on the rooftop leads to Tom firing him. A bolt of lightning strikes the antenna, and Tom is blown off the roof along with the cat. Miraculously, Tom’s body ends up in a hospital coma, while his consciousness is trapped inside Mr. Fuzzypants, the cat. Felix explains that Tom’s mind now inhabits the feline form, and he warns him to reevaluate his priorities within a week, or risk remaining a cat forever.

As Tom inhabits the cat, his new reality unfolds before him. He tries to communicate with Lara and Rebecca, who are baffled by his sudden change in behavior, and his antics begin to drive them to the edge of frustration. Tom’s perspective shifts as he begins to see how deeply he has ignored his family in favor of work. He also uncovers a painful truth: Lara Jennifer Garner has been having an affair with model Josh Myers Mark Consuelos, and they have been scouting houses together in preparation for a possible divorce. Meanwhile, Ian Cox Teddy Sears is maneuvering behind the scenes to take control of the company by going public, with the board supporting his bid—an effort that David tries to block.

A breakthrough comes when Rebecca realizes the cat is really her father in disguise. Yet Tom’s physical body remains in crisis in the hospital, and Lara, Rebecca, and David all rush there. Rebecca secretly hides Mr. Fuzzypants in her backpack, hoping for proof. In a pivotal moment, David apologizes to Tom for failing to save the company and takes Tom’s employee badge, hinting at a dangerous plan to end his life at the tower. Lara and Dr. Cole discuss a DNR order, while Rebecca pleads with the cat to prove he is truly Tom. Remembering Felix’s teaching that love involves sacrifice, Rebecca makes a fateful choice and saves David instead, sacrificing Tom’s chance to fully regain his humanity.

At the tower, David makes a dramatic move: he jumps, and the cat follows him, using a cable to reach him. It’s revealed that David is wearing a BASE jumping parachute. He lands in the middle of the reception party, unfurls the company’s articles of incorporation, and announces that he now controls 51% of the stock. The company will remain family-owned, and Ian is fired.

Tom awakens from his coma just in time to witness David’s corporate victory on the television screen. Meanwhile, Ian is struck by a car, and his consciousness transfers into a cat that Felix takes back to his shop. Tom and Rebecca return to Felix, where Tom asks if he can have a dog. Felix, with a gentle smile, says he does not, but reveals that Mr. Fuzzypants now has one life left. The film closes on a note of reconciliation and continued family ownership, with Tom learning to balance ambition with the needs of those he loves.