The Cat In The Hat Review

by Bob Bloom (bobbloom AT iquest DOT net)
November 24th, 2003
THE CAT IN THE HAT (2003) 1 star out of 4. Starring Mike Myers, Alec Baldwin, Kelly Preston, Dakota Fanning, Spencer Breslin and Sean Hayes. Based on the book by Dr. Seuss. Screenplay by Alec Berg & David Mandel & Jeff Schaffer. Directed by Bo Welch. Rated PG. Running time: 81 minutes.

Universal last gave us
Jim Carrey as Grinch.
And when it got panned,
they didn't even flinch.

They turned right around
and just like that,
they put Mike Myers
in the hat of The Cat.

And now Dr. Seuss
has again been abused.
For The Cat in the Hat
on film is ill used.

It's not even for kids.
it's not even funny.
To be totally honest,
it's a waste of money.

It lacks the magic of Seuss,
of his lasting words.
On film, this Cat
is just for the birds.

Myers lacks charm,
he's creepy as the Cat
Someone else should have donned,
that big feline's hat.

He's unctuous and grating.
he's sure no laugh riot.
Too many entendres
for a kids' movie diet.

The wisdom of Seuss
is missing in action.
The laughs are so scarce;
they're only a fraction.

A mom and a neighbor
pop onto the scene:
Kelly Preston, Alec Baldwin
with not much to glean.

The film's writers forgot
An important detail.
The lessons of youth
are the meat of this tale.

The Cat is a letdown,
I ruefully confess.
Once again the studio
has made Seuss a mess.

So here's what I say,
this is my hook.
You'd be better off reading
your children the book.

Bob Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or at [email protected]. Other reviews by Bloom can be found at www.jconline.com by clicking on movies.
Bloom's reviews also appear on the Web at the Rottentomatoes Web site, www.rottentomatoes.com and at the Internet Movie Database:
http://www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom

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