Courtney Howard // Film Critic
THE CAT IN THE HAT
Rated PG, 1 hour and 47 minutes
Directed by: Alessandro Carloni, Erica Rivinoja
Starring: Bill Hader, Xochitl Gomez, Tiago Martinez, Quinta Brunson, America Ferrera, Matt Berry, Paula Pell, Tituss Burgess, Giancarlo Esposito, Bowen Yang
Little did prolific author Theodore Geisel know when he wrote The Cat in the Hat back in 1957 that the illustrated novel he created as a critical response to the rudimentary reading primers at the time would go on to have such an illustrious history. Under the pen name Dr. Seuss, he sought to inspire children to use their imaginations, utilizing a more vibrant, lively and silly tale centered on two siblings’ wild, wacky adventure with a frolicsome feline sporting a red bow tie and striped chapeau. The picture book was so popular, it inspired a well-received animated TV movie in 1971 and a not-so-well-received live-action iteration in 2003. The latter was so horrendously executed, it reportedly made Geisel’s widow put the kibosh on future live-action adaptations of her husband’s work.
Yet returning to its animated roots proves pawsitively perfect for the creatives behind the latest iteration, THE CAT IN THE HAT. Writers-Directors Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja transform Dr. Seuss’ time-honored, fine-tuned mischief into a demented (complimentary!), new generational MARY POPPINS that’s fun for the entire family. Ridiculously hilarious and resoundingly heartfelt, it brilliantly blends themes ruminating on family, fun as a life-enhancing tool and embracing change through difficulties. It’s both a love letter to Dr. Seuss and to animation as an innovative art form.
The Cat in the Hat’s (voiced by Bill Hader) career as a field agent in a MONSTERS, INC.-esque organization – The Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration – is put into jeopardy after his latest outing into the real world causes a chaotic cluster of commotion. It’s gotten so bad his curmudgeonly boss Mr. Hoogeboom (Giancarlo Esposito) is looking for any excuse to fire him. Cat’s bestie Sherrie From HR (Quinta Brunson), however, is desperate to keep him. They manage to convince their tyrannical supervisor to give Cat one last chance. After giving Cat his new case file involving two young, glum siblings in the real world and setting him up for sure failure, Mr. Hoogeboom tricks Cat into digging up a dangerous gadget called “the go-backer” that can rewind time and set loose a monstrous creature named “The Something,” who is obsessed with it.
Teen Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and her tween brother Sebastian (Tiago Martinez) are depressed after moving into an apartment far away from their hometown. They already miss their old lives: for her, that’s playing the trumpet in her school marching band and for him, it’s spending playtime with his sister. Their loving mom Carmen (America Ferrera) has started a new job as a nurse in a nearby nursing home and is optimistic about the big change, despite their mean, nosy landlady Patty’s (Paula Pell) fun-limiting, restrictive rules. Cat in the Hat arrives to cheer up the kids, but he has a large task ahead of him that’s made even more difficult when he loses his specialized tech in one of their three large moving boxes. They must retrieve the go-backer before The Something can get ahold of it and alter their futures fur-ever.
Carloni and Rivinoja, who work from a screen story by Caroline Williams, do a yeoman’s job tapping not only into the power of the book’s messaging about allowing kids to be kids, but also building out the world and telling a compelling tale all their own. There’s even a loving homage to Geisel’s original whimsical illustrations on display when Hoogeboom recalls The Cat’s prior magnificent messes. Since there are three distinct worlds showcased (reality, fantasy and Seussian), each has its own unique look and visual language in a stirring tribute to imagination. The Seussian adopts brightly bleached, soft SOUL-styled character and workplace designs. The real world is done as traditional CG animation that utilizes warm and cool cinematography palettes to enhance emotionally evocative, atmospheric pull. The fantasy realms delve into dream logic, where a psychic narwhal (Tituss Burgess) can sing and IKEA instructional drawings come alive.
Unlike the previous animated adaptations of Dr. Seuss’ works – specifically those in Illumination’s obnoxious oeuvre, including THE LORAX and THE GRINCH, as well as 20th Century Fox’s HORTON HEARS A WHO – the uproarious fun and freneticism don’t play as jangling keys for young’uns in the audience. Kids will undoubtedly laugh at the Things’ slapstick slap shtick. Still, there’s deep poignancy behind its themes. All-ages audiences are bound to relate to the personal upheavals, feelings of being misunderstood and adolescent growing pains highlighted here. The filmmakers also incorporate disability subtly with the inclusion of Rosie, the cool new classmate whom Gabby seeks to impress. While speaking with her new neighbors, Rosie brushes her purple hair back to reveal cochlear implants. Plus, Lorne Balfe’s score helps emphasize and augment the whimsy, curiosity and wacky hijinks afoot. His collaboration with the USC Trojan Marching Band – their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” – is genuinely special and undeniably inspirational.
Indeed, there are a few blights. While Gabby narrates and paints a picture for The Cat in the Hat out of the items contained in her box, Sebastian acts surprised by the toys they discover in his. Context clues – like the absence of professional movers and the fact the family is moving into an apartment and not a house – show that they aren’t wealthy. We can only surmise he packed that box himself so it’s baffling why he’s caught in such awe-struck wonderment at seeing his special toys again. Pacing tends to be a minor issue, from balancing out the cavalcade of characters’ needs (like Patty’s persnickety problems and the Things’ journey) to spending too much time at the Sea Circus, dragged down by the AUSTIN POWERS-inspired awkward gag featuring talking goldfish Waffles (Matt Berry).
With irreverent humor, indelible charm and a solid anchor performance by lead Hader, who sneaks wit and wisdom into his vocal intonations (and slips in a James Mason impression when mocking Berry’s British thespian voice), THE CAT IN THE HAT is a real winner.
Grade: B+
THE CAT IN THE HAT will be in theaters on November 6.
