The Cat in the Hat (2003)

User Rating:

3.3/10   

Director:

Bo Welch

Writers (WGA):

Dr. Seuss (book)
Alec Berg (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Don't mess with the hat.

Plot:

Sally and Conrad are two bored kids whose life is turned up-side-down when a talking cat comes to visit them.

Plot Keywords:

Cat | Imagination | Flatulence | Talking Animal | Family Relationships

Awards:

3 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Mike Myers	...	The Cat
Alec Baldwin	...	Quinn
Kelly Preston	...	Mom
Dakota Fanning	...	Sally
Spencer Breslin	...	Conrad
Amy Hill	...	Mrs. Kwan
Sean Hayes	...	Mr. Humberfloob / Voice of the Fish
Danielle Chuchran	...	Thing One (as Danielle Ryan Chuchran)
Taylor Rice	...	Thing One
Brittany Oaks	...	Thing Two
Talia-Lynn Prairie	...	Thing Two (as Talia Prairie)
Dan Castellaneta	...	Thing One / Thing Two (voice)
Victor Brandt	...	Narrator (voice)
Daran Norris	...	Announcer
Bugsy	...	Nevins

Also Known As:

Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild crude humor and some double-entendres.

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Switzerland:6 (canton of Zurich) | France:U | Malaysia:U | Finland:K-3 | Australia:G | Ireland:PG | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:I | Japan:U | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Sweden:Btl | Taiwan:GP | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #39519) | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Tim Allen was originally cast as the title role, but couldn't do it because he was filming The Santa Clause 2 (2002).

Goofs:

Continuity: When we see Quinn returning to his house, is is about 30 feet away from the right side of the children's house. However, when the storm is approaching, we are looking at the right side of the children's house from about 200 feet away. From 200 feet away, Quinn's house would be blocking our view of the children's house.

Quotes:

The Cat: You pay this woman to sit on babies? That's disgusting. I do it for nothing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Drew Barrymore/Lily Allen (#32.12)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Rawhide

They should never have let this cat out of the bag.

There is no way to avoid a comparison between The Cat in the Hat and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, so let's get that part out of the way. First of all, let me start by saying that I think Grinch was an underrated and unappreciated film. Cat was... well, just awful.

Jim Carey was cast because he is a brilliant physical comedian, and fearlessly commits to over the top, outrageous characters. Mike Myers fell back on his old bag of tricks.

Why, why, why Mike Myers?? The kids could care less, and the Austin Powers demographic isn't going to spy this film. So, what was the studio thinking?

The Cat was also apparently related to Linda Richmond. Can we talk? Why a New York Accent? Not entirely consistent with anything Dr. Seuss has ever written. Myers was even allowed to sneak in his Scottish shtick. I wonder how many different voices the director and the studio tried to edit out of before they just gave in and said "as long as you don't say fahklempt', you can keep the accents." Meyers never seemed to find any sort of comfort, either with the costume, make-up, or dialogue.

The jokes, what few there were, were crude and age inappropriate. When Myers picks up a garden hoe and delivers to the camera: "dirty ho", everything but the rim shot was missing, and even that wouldn't have helped.

The same folks who created 'Whoville', clearly had a hand in the creation of the town and the houses in 'Cat'. The sets and props were very appealing, giving the viewer a much needed distraction from the bad writing, direction, and Myers.

There was some fun to be had with Alec Baldwin and Kelly Preston. Dakota Fanning was the only actor who seemed to be aware she was in a movie based on a Dr. Seuss classic, and stayed true to the genre.

Call the SPCA. This Cat should be neutered and never be allowed to reproduce again. Please, please, no sequel.