The Cat in the Hat Movie

Today is the 10^th anniversary of the live-action family heart-warming wacky comedy film based off the 1957 Dr. Seuss book of the same name, “The Cat in the Hat” the 2003 movie. This movie isn’t just a great and funny theatrical filmed feature, but also a undeerrated classic that holds hatred & controversy. But, we’ll get to everything after I explain the history & review the movie.

I’ll start off by telling you that I grew up with the classic children’s picture novel & all the other Seuss-books, as well as the 1971 Televison special. I was exiting when news of a feature was in progress and when I saw the promotional media, I even got a stuffed animal of the Cat (which resembles the cartoon drawings more than Mike Myers for some reason… ). I didn’t see it in theatres, and didn’t for a while until decmber of 2008 (which I saw the final climax… and was confussed and weirded out- and I saw other parts out of order). I had mixed feelings then, but changed my mind when I rented it to watch the ENTIRE feature. The movie is fun, wacky, surreal, and surpirsenly has a more benifcital moral than the original book had.

If you know the story of the book, two kids are bored and  an antrophemorphic cat comes in to have fun. He wrecksw the place, is forced to leave, and comes back to clean the place. Like “The Grinch” film, the movie doesn’t just incorperate new elemenats to leathen time for a 90 minute feature, but also gives purpose to the story. The Mother (Named “Joan Walden” and portrayed by “Kelly Preston”) is a realistate agent and is hosting a party for the company. This is complicated because her son (Conrad, “Spensor Breslin”) has a bad habit of performing the complete opposite of what he is told, forging a wounded relationship between the Woman and Boy. To make the matters worse, she is dating a bad man (portrayed by “Alec Baldwin”) who wants to put Conrad into a military school. She has to go back to work on that day, so she hiresa babysiter (since, althoiugh a timeless movie, is sort of 2000sish, and leaving children at home by themselves is not really acceptable in today’s society). Conrad and Sally (“Dakota Fanning”) cannot make a mess of the house, which is why they cannot play insdie during the rain (which unfortunatly doesn’t last long like in the original novel). The Cat arrives, annoyes the Fish (“Sean Haynes”) and unleashes his Things (which in this version, have to clean up the plot elemant from “he Cat in the Hat Comes Back”… I mean, Cup-cake spots). To fill in, a lot of random things that were not in the book happen, like a song, jumping on the couch, and one of the geatest scenes in cinimatic history…  “The Kupkake-Inator” kitchen show! The Cat’s crate, however, does change the plot around. The red box is a transporter from another SeussLike dimansion, and should remained closed to prevent any trouble. Conrad, being the Opposary he is, ignored the Cat’s warning/rule and unlocks the lock. The lock attaches itself to the Dog, who is thrown out of the house and snatched by The Boyfriend (Larry). During the chase, Conrad realizes the errors of his ways, which he corrects in redemption. When everybody but Mom gets home, the house has been meldid with the Cat’s universe, which is the Seussiest SeussNess EVER to happen in a movie (sorry Lorax!). after shutting the crate and the house falling apart, the Cat reveals he planned the whole day, to end from the start (Yeah, I needed to ryhme). The kids banish the Cat for what he did, and realize their faults. Thankfully, the cat returns with a cleanning machine and mends the damage. An emotional heart-jerker scene happens when the Cat has to say good bye, and the kids beg him not to go. When Mom arrives, she dumps Larry while defending Conrad. The movie ends with the mother & children jumping on the couch in joy, and Cat and things walk into the sunset- not litererly girls & boys.

I really love the characters. The Cat, although makes unnessasary adult jokes (which can be HIT or miss in funny humor), is a hiraous and amazing character to be put on film. some fans & audiances complain about his departure from the book, and how cold & clude he is. On the contrary, he actually showes that he does care & only wishes the best for the children…. Even if he dislikes the fish & wants to destory Nevins the dog. And if you proclaim this Cat as mean, I’ll remind you that Dr. Seuss’s original character wasn’t the nicest one of them all either. Mike Myers describes the introduction of the book character as a possible Anarkest, who appears at the end to be a teacher. However, since that Cat never mentions anything about “having too much fun can cause trouble”, he possibly could be supportive or bad juvinile behavior. While on the other tail, this harry-man Cat teachers the morality of following rules (as well as not being bossy no-fun in Sally’s case). I also love how the two children have more personality & style compaired to their 50s counterparts: as well as giving the unnamed narrator Boy A NAME! “The Mother/Joan” is very great, with excellent cemitry between her and Conrad. The Fish is always likeable, the things are okay but not my Things, and the other characters made for the movie are very enjoyable for being qurkey & bizzar. “Ms. Kwan” (Amy Hill), the japanese baby-sister, & “Mr. Hank Humberfloob” (Sean Haynes, who also voices the Fish) is very silly by being a neat-freak boss who gives Donald Trump a run for his money. The antagonist, “Larrance Larry Quinn” (Alec… oh, we went over this) is like a typical bad-greedy-lazy-boyfriend villain, but he still is a good use of bad. I was surpirsed to find him in this movie. I must also mention the Narrator (Victor Brandt), even though it is revealed that the Cat was narrating the entire story.

The sets, props, & everything else brings the world of Dr. Seuss into reality. Anvilie is a town I would love to live, a colorful city that is worth a buck to give. And clothes are also very bright & optimistic. The lighting & weird feel to it is almost as identicle to a show that would air four years later, titled “Pushing Daisies”. It saddends me that the Live-Action film industry doesn’t produce movies as colorful or as strange like this anymore. Look at 2003 and look at 2013, there was diversity then, and just plain banalness now. The Cat’s iconic hat is given a purpose now, aside from having iconicness. His hat is like if Inspector Gagdet was on your head.

Now, here is the problem that everyone judges & alieniates the movie on…  THE MATURE CONTENT! Now, as a big brother, want to be parent, and a child at heart- the adult humor is really unnessacary. However, I show ambivalence on the subject. Some of the jokes can be funny, and it is hirraous to see someone from your childhood cursing (SON OF A “BLLLLLLEEEP’”). However, lines like “Dirty Hoe” triggle an uncomtoratble & distasting sense. I don’t think it was good to show what was under the cat’s hood (don’t qorry parents, it was only his naked butt), and why is Pairs Hilton dancing in a skimppy outfit? (I need to mention that that scene was pretty funny: a dance club with the Cat’s whote & red colors is totally like a nostalgic firework explodiing). However, some of the mature content needed, like the relationship problems, and some of the CLEAN grown-up humor.

I often thought over why did the producers (like Brian Grazer) often filled the live-action SeussMovies with adult content. However, while thinking of both the films & the books, I realized the reason. If you have read books (Like The Cat in the Hat), you’ll probably notice that the characters have NO personality (or even names for that fact). That is because Theadore Geisel probably wanted you the reader to feel like you’re in the book. Conversely, the movies give not just personality to the characaters, but also real-life issues. That is probably because the films are mostly aimed for the GROWN-UP Seuss audience. If you’re family is ignoring you, or just a troubled trouble-maker, you can maturally related to these issues while watching you’re favorutie book comes get adpated to the whatever-inch mega-screne. If there wasn’t any of the mature content, I don’t know if critics & fans would give the flick more positive feedback. There still is the fact that it differs from the source, is really weird, and other factors that are tossed around the internet fan disscusions. The critics do simply hate anything that isn’t a three hour drama in reality, but most did praise the set designs & costumes. Also, a lot gave the film okay & outstanding reviews.

But what about the man himself? Would Theadore Geisel love it? As most would say he would hate it (like his wife Audrey did), I understand why. However, from looking through another viewpoint, I can assume that he possibly could have enjoyed it. I was going to do an analisis on this, but I am both too lazy &…  well, there is too much to talk about on these theroies. But in conclusion, we’ll never know. Grinch, Cat, Horton, & the organge furry peanutt- would Seuss hate, love, or be ambivalent to his film adaptations? He could’ve loved them, hated know, up and down, or didn’t care.i personally enjoy all four of them, all their ups and downs: they are good films. Hey, they do still keep the ryhme, even if it is not all of the time (although I would like to see..  hear that)

In conclusion, The Cat in the Hat is a great family film. even if it is poisoned by it’s adult content, it makes up for it’s lacky imagination, likeabl characters, and good morality that wasn’t even in the book. Both the book and the film are film to view, now go search the gallery if you want to see something related to the Vile of Who!

Now, for the art. I used pencil & reference to outline & identiclize the characters. Aside from the Wallden Family, and everyone else- I added objects that are important to the film as well. There is The Crate (with the Mother of All Messes bubbling out), The Cat’s Hippie Hat, The S.L.O.W. (Super Luxgerious Armydirectional Whatjamajigger. And of course…  THE KUPKAKE-INATOR!  And I did my best to have them all look good. If you don’t like this cartoony style, then just go away and don’t bother crying about it.

Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, & Imagine Entertainment.

Dr. Seuss
Art by me I’ll draw it because no one else will.

Wow… this took a long time to write, and sadly spellcheck stopped working while writing the final sentences. However, I fixed the issue by copying another sentence to reactivate it. I also  didn’t even bother mentioning the CGI remake, the one Illumination is producing.