Review of Dr. Seuss` The Cat In The Hat (Widescreen)

Introduction

Not a bad film. Not a particularly good film either, but nothing that merited the blasting this movie took on its release.

Mike Myers in the title role based his Cat persona on a number of US celebrities whose names will mean absolutely nothing to most UK viewers, so I won`t bore you with details. Suffice to say, the Americans took exception. The two kids in the movie are Spencer Breslin as Conrad, the boy who always does what his Mom tells him not to; and Dakota Fanning as Sally, a control freak little madam. Their mother is a realtor (that`s American for Estate Agent), who works for a boss with a cleanliness fixation that would make Howard Hughes think he was a freak. In fact, that`s the only let-down in the whole picture that Mr Humberfloob (Will and Grace`s Sean Hayes) never gets coated in raw sewage like he so totally needs to be. The villain of the piece is neighbour Quinn (Alec Baldwin), who is intent on making a move on the kids` mother (Kelly Preston). His character is another liberty taken with the text, and a great deal of criticism has been levelled at a scene where he slobs out in the privacy of his own living room and picks lint out of his bellybutton while watching Russian gymnastics (not p0rn as some people believe) on tv.

Video

The movie is absolutely spotless, as you would expect. The presentation is in 1.85:1 anamorphic and colours are vivid (even though the palette used by the art department is pastel shades). The picture is sharp and well contrasted, not that there`s that wide a range of illumination between scenes.

Audio

A very lively Dolby Digital 5.1 soundstage ricochets sound effects around you as the Cat makes merry.

Features

The menuing system on the disc is particularly lively, hosted by Spencer Breslin and Dakota Fanning in a style reminiscent of Mike Myers menus on Austin Powers TSWSM. Spencer`s menu covers all the "cool" (kiddie oriented) extras while Dakota`s covers the making of material.

Dance Along With The Cat teaches you to do just that. There are sixteen deleted scenes and twenty outtake gags. Of slightly drier tone, the USPS sponsored "The Purr-fect Stamp" documents the creation of a special Dr Seuss Stamp for the US Postal Service.

Behind the scenes there are short featurettes on the D.I.R.T. machine; the building of Anville, the setting of the story; the special effects behind The Mother Of All Messes; the special musical considerations of the story and there are also short pieces on the Cat, the Kids, and the Fish.

All in all a pleasing package of extras reminiscent of the stuff that made up the Grinch disc.

Conclusion

I can`t say this movie is as totally excremental as many US reviewers think. It`s not the greatest movie ever made, it`s not wildly funny, but I can`t understand the sheer vitriol that`s been spat over the movie by both professional and casual reviewers. It has been equated with standing on a street corner pimping your grandmother`s services.

The movie is full of slightly off-colour jokes; it`s (kitty) littered with fart jokes, snot jokes and a Carry On style oblique erection gag involving the eponymous Cat`s headgear. The movie isn`t really aimed at the kiddywinks. It`s aimed at an adolescent post-modern crowd, the sort of bod who gets all the gags in Scooby Doo: The Movie, or Looney Tunes. They`ll be roaring away while the rugrat they bought the film for will be thinking "What on earth`s he laughing at?". Having said that, I wouldn`t say it`s unsuitable for children. Children have a much smuttier sense of humour than most adults realise or will acknowledge. The reviews could be an early indication of the same US hypersensitivity that erupted over the Janet Jackson superbowl incident, and is currently cracking down on swearing on US television.

The Americans obviously hold Dr Seuss in some kind of reverence that I don`t get. Universal obviously don`t get it either, otherwise they wouldn`t have taken such liberties with the text. I mean, we Brits don`t get all bent out of shape over the liberties Disney take with our Winnie The Pooh, do we? Yes, they`re childrens` books we`re nostalgically fond of, but it`s not like they`re articles of faith, are they? People are getting in a froth over nothing, and if your eight-year-old turns to you and asks "What`s a dirty hoe?" You tell `em it`s a gardening implement in need of a wash.