The dapper cat himself may need to avail himself of his nine lives. That White House mention did return for the 2022 festivities. Seuss canon has taken a cultural hit in recent years on racial insensitivity grounds, with six titles pulled by the Seuss gatekeepers last year.ĭuring 2021's Read Across America Day – traditionally held on author Theodor Geisel's birthday, March 2 – President Biden did not mention Dr. That longevity can't be taken for granted of late. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” is still with us. Sixty-five years later this Saturday, Dr. ‘I will NOT go away, I do NOT wish to go!’” “'But I like to be here, oh I like it a lot,’ said the cat in the hat to the fish in the pot. Despite the high-pitched protestations of the home’s pet fish, the cat would not leave. One day long ago, a fiercely mischievous feline showed up at the house of two young children. And Meyers is simply a hoot to watch, with able support from the kids (especially Fanning) and the fish (voice of Sean Hayes).Watch Video: Seuss-inspired books to feature diverse creators We get both the fun of imagining all of that and the satisfaction of a happy ending. The mom-neighbor subplot isn't very original or interesting, but fortunately it does not take too much time away from the real story, which is the undeniable pleasure of watching the Cat destroy and create chaos in the perfect house. This is important because very little of what is added to the story is worth the effort. Meyers' energy and audacity - and his astonishingly animated expressions under all that fur - keep the movie on track. But every time the Cat takes over, it is entertaining. They can stretch out the story with filler that ranges from the superfluous to the distracting and once in a while reaches the level of oh-no-not-that-again. The great thing about the irrepressibly anarchic Cat in the Hat is that even Hollywood can't contain him. Jellybean-colored sets (and Mom's just-dry-cleaned dress) are cheerfully destroyed along with, Mom's rules, some of the kids' ideas about themselves, and the laws of physics. Meanwhile, the Cat creates absolute chaos and the kids react with a mixture of horror and delight in seeing things like that 'don't you touch anything' living room covered in splotches of purple goo. Also new to the film, a neighbor ( Alec Baldwin) schemes to marry the kids' mother and have Conrad sent to a military boarding school.

And they have to learn to appreciate one another. Conrad ( Spencer Breslin) must learn to follow the rules and Sally ( Dakota Fanning) has to learn to loosen up and not be so bossy. Here, the Cat is an 'I'm here to teach you a lesson,' sort of guy to his two young friends. Meyers' interpretation of the Cat seems to be a master of vaudevillian shtick with a few of the voices from The Wizard of Oz and a sort of demented Mary Poppins thrown in for what turns out to be very good measure. Seuss story, this live-action film stars Mike Myers as the mischievous Cat.

Dr seuss the cat in the hat book