When the live-action adaptation of ‘The Cat in the Hat’ premiered in November 2003, it primarily targeted late Millennials and early Gen Z viewers. As a young audience, they were mostly oblivious to the film’s many adult jokes. Instead, they delighted in the memorable musical numbers, the vibrant color palette of every scene, and the playful comedy. Now, 21 years later, that same audience has grown up and often remembers the movie as either a comical fever dream or a childhood nightmare.
From the many reviews I’ve read about this movie, it’s clear that it didn’t live up to many people’s expectations upon release. Movie critics hoped for something that truly depicted the book—something more wholesome, rather than an oversized cat making adult jokes every few minutes. One critic remarked, “The Cat in the Hat comes scarily close to being the most unendurable Hollywood creation of the last dozen years.” The film was widely disliked by critics, viewers, and fans of the book, and it was also considered a box-office letdown. Due to the negative reception, Dr. Seuss’ widow, Audrey Geisel, banned all future live-action adaptations of her late husband’s work, expressing her own disinterest in the film. Consequently, ‘The Cat in the Hat Comes Back’ sequel was never made. All subsequent adaptations, such as ‘The Grinch’ (2018), have been produced using computer animation.
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Let’s be honest: the film’s criticism mainly came from adults who probably weren’t the intended audience for a children’s movie. Many children’s TV shows and films include innocent adult jokes to keep parents entertained while watching with their kids. In that sense, this movie is no different. This review is for the mixed generation who grew up with this quirky film and found something to enjoy or love about it. Dr. Seuss’ ‘The Cat in the Hat’ became available to watch on Netflix on August 1, 2024, and is also available to stream on Netflix Basic with Ads.
Summary
The beloved Mike Myers stars as The Cat, hidden beneath layers of makeup and fur. The Cat is a jokester, an instigator, and chaotic— to say the least—but ultimately, he just wants to teach two siblings how to have fun. The kids, Conrad (Spencer Breslin) and Sally (Dakota Fanning), have very different personalities. Conrad, the troublemaker, never listens to his mom and is guaranteed to cause trouble. Sally, on the other hand, is an extreme rule follower who even writes a daily To-Do list, complete with a note to “Make out tomorrow’s To-Do list.” Their single mother, Joan Walden (Kelly Preston), dressed in pretty pink from head to toe, is a realtor working for the intense germaphobe Mr. Humberfloob (Sean Hayes). Warning: do not shake his hands!
Mr. Humberfloob warns Joan that if her house isn’t up to his tidy standards, she’ll be fired—or as he likes to scream it, “You’re firedddd!”—really putting an emphasis on the “d” at the end. Joan comes home to find Conrad doing a dangerous stunt down the stairs, which ends with their dog, Nevins, running out. Lawrence (Larry) Quinn (Alec Baldwin), Joan’s next-door neighbor and boyfriend, returns the dog, much to the delight of Joan and Sally. However, Larry and Conrad have a combative relationship, as Larry wants Joan to send Conrad to military school to discipline him—an idea Joan isn’t too keen on.
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Joan is called back to the office by her boss, so she arranges for a last-minute babysitter, Mrs. Kwan (Amy Hill), who has a tendency to fall asleep at any given moment. As Joan leaves, she and Conrad argue about his behavior and the possibility of military school, ending with Conrad wishing he had a different mother. Joan, saddened by this, sees Larry as she heads out the door. Larry, supposedly on his way to a sales conference, is actually lying and sneaks back into his house once she drives off. He’s honestly just a slob who picks his belly button and is on the verge of losing his house.
Back inside, the kids hear a noise coming from the upstairs closet. Hesitantly, they go to investigate. Conrad, true to his mischievous nature, pulls a prank on Sally by pretending to find something scary. With suspense building, he jumps out and throws a black stuffed animal at Sally, teasing her with, “You should have seen the look on your face. It’s like you saw a monster—”. Just then, they turn around to see an oversized cat standing behind them. The Cat, joining the conversation, says, “A monster? Where?” The kids scream and run into hiding. And with that, the chaos truly begins…!
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Many elements come together to create the whimsical masterpiece that is ‘The Cat in the Hat.’ The Cat, impulsive and energetic, provides endless entertainment for the bored siblings. Once they get past the borderline home invasion by a talking cat, whose only crime is ignoring their mom’s sole rule—don’t step foot in the precisely tidy living room—they indulge in loads of fun and musical numbers performed by The Cat. With costume changes and lively songs, The Cat sets up a big red crate in the living room, introducing the kids to Thing 1 and Thing 2, mischievous creatures with blue wigs and red outfits. The Things, though friendly, create all kinds of havoc, communicating mostly in sounds and doing the opposite of what they’re told.
A problem arises when The Cat instructs the kids not to touch the crate, secured with a crab-shaped lock. He explains that it’s the “Trans-dimensional Transportolator,” a portal to The Cat’s world, and warns Conrad, “No opening the crate. No lookee, no touchee.” True to the proverb “Curiosity killed the cat” (pun intended—don’t worry, The Cat survives), Conrad removes the lock and it, somehow alive, jumps around their dog Nevins’ collar. Chaos sparks as the Things create a mess, house decor starts hitting the floor, and they run around with the dog. When Sally, unaware that the Things do the opposite of what they’re told, shouts, “Put the dog down!” Thing 1 promptly throws the innocent dog out the window, and he runs away. And Mrs. Kwan just sleeps through it all.
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A Review
I won’t give away too much of the plot, but after the initial situation, the kids, The Cat, and a talking fish embark on an adventure to retrieve Nevins and close the crate. ‘The Cat in the Hat’ is full of craziness that will make you laugh and constantly wonder, “What am I watching right now?” But that’s the joy of the film! Much like the book, the plot isn’t meant to be taken too seriously. Embrace it and enjoy the film for its humor, wild adventures, and creative yet unrealistic moments.
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Yes, there are a few adult jokes here and there, and perhaps certain audiences are biased because they innocently enjoyed it at a young age. However, it’s a film you learn to appreciate for being so delightfully chaotic. Instead of turning your nose up and dismissing it as “charmless, pointless, and all but witless,” as one critic harshly put it, embrace its quirky charm. ‘The Cat in the Hat’ may not be a traditional adaptation, but its comicality and whimsical nature make it an entertaining ride for those willing to use their suspension of disbelief and enjoy the madness.
In the end, the kids have the time of their lives and learn valuable lessons about teamwork, having fun responsibly, and developing a newfound respect for their mother. While the film may not be for everyone, approaching it with an open mind allows you to fully appreciate its whimsical disorder and unique charm. It’s chaotic, just like The Cat, but worth experiencing for yourself!
Cast: Mike Myers, Dakota Fanning, Spencer Breslin, Kelly Preston, Alec Baldwin, Sean Hayes, Amy Hill | Director: Bo Welch | Producer: Brian Grazer | Screenplay: Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer | Music: David Newman | Based on: The Cat in the Hat Dr. Suess
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Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
Kaili Spooner’s passion lies in sports journalism and Black TV/Film, and her writing strongly aligns with The Hollywood Insider’s values of delivering factual and in-depth coverage. While her future career goal is to be a sports journalist and do social media work for the NBA/WNBA, for now, she balances her academic pursuits with being a collegiate volleyball player at SSU and unwinding with her favorite comedy and drama sitcoms at home.
