Is the movie version of “Cats” a whimsical frolic or a head-scratching disaster? Only you can decide.

One thing is certain, however: Watching the movie has been a polarizing experience for viewers, who tend to love it or loathe it.

Strong reactions to the 2019 musical should be evident over the next seven days at Birmingham’s Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema, during nine screenings that encourage audience members to heckle, chortle and sing along. Organizers at the Sidewalk Cinema, 1821 Second Ave. North, are calling these “cool” screenings, taking inspiration from cult classics -- “The Room,” for example, or “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” -- that inspire audience participation.

You can hiss. You can purr. You can hate watch. You can shriek in delight. Heck, you can probably wear kitty ears and pray for Jellicle intervention.

Screenings are set for 6:15 p.m. today (Jan. 24), 4:15 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 25), 2:45 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 26) 4:15 pm. and 6:45 p.m. Monday (Jan. 27), 7:15 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 28), 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 29), and 4:30 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 30). Tickets are $10.75, $9 for kids age 12 and younger, $9 for seniors age 65 and older.

The “Cats” movie, you may recall, is based on the hit Broadway musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. He was inspired by a poetry collection by T.S. Eliot, “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.” The musical focuses on a group of cats called Jellicles, all of whom hope to ascend to kitty heaven (called the “Heaviside Layer”) so they can start a new life. Only one can be chosen, however, by the ancient cat known as Old Deuteronomy.

The musical is packed with whimsical -- some would say nonsensical -- songs that focus on characters such as “The Rum Tum Tugger,” “Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat," “Bustopher Jones: The Cat About Town,” “Gus: The Theatre Cat” and “Grizabella: The Glamour Cat." The most famous song from the musical, of course, is “Memory,” the soaring ballad sung by Grizabella.

The movie adds one tune, “Beautiful Ghosts,” sung by Taylor Swift and written by Swift and Lloyd Webber. (It was nominated for a Golden Globe, but lost to (“I’m Gonna) Love Me Again" from “Rocketman.”)

Aside from Swift, the movie cast of “Cats” features several big names -- Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, Judi Dench, James Corden, Rebel Wilson, Jason Derulo and Ian McKellen -- plus newcomer Francesca Hayward.

With so much star power on the screen, what could go wrong? Plenty, according to detractors, who’ve snickered over the weird computer generation applied to the actors, the puzzling storyline, an over-the-top visual style, several instances of scene chewing ... and well, you’ll just have to see for yourself.