Belvedere and I (and Roger) have just caught Fly me to the Moon, a very entertaining movie directed by Greg Berlanti about a handsome black cat’s pivotal role in the American moonshot of 1969. It was released in July, in plenty of time for Black Cat Appreciation Day (17 August). 

The plot is satisfyingly convoluted, based on actual events around the Apollo 11 mission, but blended with screwball comedy romance , which shouldn’t work, but does. Mischief, the cat, an all-action hero, makes an early entrance, instigates every significant plot twist, and saves the day in an adrenalin-fuelled chase sequence at the end. I’m not going to tell you how, as that would be a massive spoiler. He has few lines, but when he does express himself, every yowl counts. 

Mischief was played by three professional cat actors, Hickory, Wilbur and Eclipse. (This is very auspicious, as the Moon always has three deities–in Ancient Greece, they were Artemis, Selene and Hecate). Let’s hope we see them in action again soon. 

Their co-stars Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum,  Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano and Jim Rash, were excellent, especially Ms Johansson, who shared some endearing dialogue scenes with Mischief. 

And the sound track is utterly banging.