The Cat's out of the Bag (Dr. Seuss the Cat in the Hat (DVD))

Member Name: xBorgx

Product:	Dr. Seuss the Cat in the Hat (DVD)
Date:	04/06/09 (66 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Kids love it...

Disadvantages: As per the review...

This film initially received some bad reviews... But I didn't don't listen to critics then, and hey I don't now...

Yes, Dr Seuss might well have been turning rather quickly in his grave when it was first released and it might well be unlike his wonderful book, but it is a film that hopes to entertain young children and that is exactly what it did for mine. My four and half year old daughter was sat riveted to it when we watched it for the first time in 2004, perched on the edge of her chair. She did not stop talking about it for weeks after we saw it, and now both my kids have it on DVD and it makes a frequent trip to the DVD player...


There are bits of adult humour here too, just so that us grown ups can find funny things as well.

Sally and Conrad are at home, being looked after by an elderly babysitter (Mrs Kwan) who keeps falling asleep and appears not to wake up, even though several things happen to her - such as being put on a coat hangar and placed in the cupboard. There are under strict order from 'Mom' (Kelly Preston) to keep the place tidy because, as a real estate agent, their mother is using their home that night for a party and her boss is very strict on tidiness and obsessed with cleanliness (he will sack anyone who shakes his hand).

Next door is Quinn, played brilliantly by Alec Baldwin: a general slob and liar, but only Conrad seems to notice this - hence the fact Quinn wants to wed 'mom' and pack Conrad off to military school. As Quinn tells Conrad in private: "Oh, I think you're gonna love it! It's just like summer camp, except with brutal forced marches and soul-crushing discipline."

While at home The Cat in the Hat appears. We never find out just where he comes from, but perhaps we are not supposed to. Mike Myers is excellent in the role - basically it is Mike Myers as we all know him, but with fur over his body. He tells the children that they are not much fun and sets about making Conrad less of a 'naughty boy' and Sally less a control freak. Lots of fun ensues - including the house basically becoming a wreck. but they are found out by Quinn who goes off to tell 'mom,' at work.

Of course everything is all right at the end. Did you ever doubt this?

Main cast:

Mike Myers .... The Cat
Alec Baldwin .... Quinn
Kelly Preston .... Mom
Dakota Fanning .... Sally
Spencer Breslin .... Conrad

To do a review of the film, one cannot keep off the subject of the book. I will just say that the book is much better than this and I would have preferred (like most others) it if the movie makers had stuck with the plot of the book. But that is Hollywood for you, isn't it.

A few gripes: Dr Seuss's Cat is a clown-like figure, but genuine and just wants to have fun. Bo Welch's (the director's) version is a little bit sinister for my liking, and a bit too adult-like. He is more like a street-wise clown. The makers have added rhymes from the book and this just seems too out of place - or is that just me.

But on the whole, I did enjoy this film, I did not take it too seriously, therefore it was fine for me. My kids love it. I am sure all your kinds will love it too.


Review is also on Ciao UK by me (this one slightly amended) as Borg...

Summary: It is not really a film that aimed to win any Oscars, it merely wanted to make your child watch it a