by Scott Batchelor, Contributing Writer
I would have sworn we’ve had more than two Cat in the Hat movies over the years. The 2003 Mike Myers version made the 1993 Super Mario Bros. flick look like a faithful adaptation. Reportedly, the Seuss estate vowed not to allow any more live-action movies to be made, resulting in one of the most recognizable children’s book characters lying dormant on the big screen for over two decades. Now Bill Hader is dusting off his microphone to bring his unique charm to the titular Cat. Considering the bomb that went off the last time this franchise released a feature film, I am not surprised to see the most recent outing play it safe.
The only things The Cat in the Hat has in common with the source material are the Cat, the Things, and a rainy day. Our Cat works for a whimsical organization tasked with bringing joy to children. It’s like Monsters, Inc., but these characters are animals and not monsters, so not the same. Move on. The Cat is one of the best at what he does but often leaves behind an obnoxious mess. Instead of being fired for his numerous misdeeds, he gets one more job and is tricked into stealing the “Go-Backer,” a device that turns back time. With his newfound ability to clean up any mess with a turn of the device, the Cat sets out to cheer up Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez), who are struggling to adjust to their new home. Of course, things quickly get out of control.
What surprised me the most about this movie was how toned down Bill Hader was. I was expecting a zany, off-the-wall, manic Cat in the Hat. But instead, Hader takes a surprisingly laid-back approach. He’s still up to no good and oozes charisma, just not with the loud personality you’d expect from a character dedicated to causing chaos. I found Hader’s performance refreshing. It allows his slower moments to shine because we’re not taken aback when the film lets the story breathe a bit. Sadly, though, the charm doesn’t rub off on the other characters. Gabby is a slightly different version of Riley from Inside Out, while Sebastian is mostly around to move the story forward. Neither leaves a lasting impression, but they aren’t annoying either.
What the characters lack, the animators make up for. It is refreshing to see a new look for an animated movie rather than the traditional 3D animation we’re used to when adapting cartoon or children’s book characters. The animators clearly took their time, especially with smaller details like how the lighting, shadows, and environments change as the day goes on and the sun shines through the windows at different angles. Unfortunately, that attention to detail doesn’t carry over to the new worlds the characters explore. Considering how imaginative the rest of the movie looks, I expected something more stunning than what we got. They do the job, but I could have used a little more personality and detail.
I think that same inconsistency matches how I felt about the story. We spend plenty of time introducing the Cat’s work environment and establishing what’s at stake for him, but we come to a screeching halt once we meet the kids. The laughs are few and far between. I may have chuckled a couple of times at a joke or cute moment, but I can’t think of anything that really stands out. Some jokes have such convoluted setups for too little a payoff that I questioned why they made the final cut. The third act does stick the landing though, with a creative solution to the climax against the movie’s big bad: The Something. The payoff is satisfying but predictable, and it’s hard to say whether it makes up for the slog to get there.
The Cat in the Hat is a serviceable revival of the franchise. Bill Hader brings a much-needed change to the character, and the animation at least makes the film stand out visually. But the story doesn’t have the imagination to match. There are enough good ideas here to keep this movie from being a complete disappointment, but too much of it feels like familiar territory that was done better elsewhere. After 23 years, I was hoping for a real gamechanger for the character but got a safe outing to establish the world instead.
Rating: Just Okay
The Cat in the Hat is currently available in theaters.
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