One of the most whimsical films of recent years, The Rabbi's Cat is a joy even as it meanders and becomes all the more unpredictable. The unnamed cat at the center of the story may be one of my all-time favorites, so devious, clever and funny that he feels far more real than any of the human characters. He's a menace, wanting to convert to Judaism while remaining skeptical of the specifics of religion. In this, it offers quite a bit of insight into the nature of faith. The depth and humor here is as much a pleasure as it is a surprise. Halfway through the film, there's a shifted emphasis from the cat to the characters searching for Jerusalem, which keeps this from being truly accomplished. But a late scene where the cat interrupts a bar mitzvah is a comic gem.
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