‘The Cat in the Hat’: Not Flat, but a Copycat

The Cat in the Hat is not flat, though it is kinda a copycat. It readily recalls Monsters Inc., Inside Out, Moana (specifically Tamatoa), The Little Mermaid and The Brave Little Toaster.

Loosely inspired by Dr. Seuss’s 1957 book, the story follows the anthropomorphic Cat (voiced by Bill Hader), who is tasked with cheering up two displaced kids: music-loving tween Gabby and her brother Sebastian. Having just moved to a new town, Gabby struggles with the transition and dismisses her single mother, Carmen (America Ferrera), as boring and devoid of an “artistic soul.”

For the Cat, this assignment is a last chance. If he leaves a mess, he’ll get sacked from his workplace — the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, LLC — where his friend Sherrie from HR can only do so much.

I watched this at Opus Mall’s Family Cinema, where toddlers abandoned the screen for the play area upfront. Yet, even they paused during the action scenes when a shadowy villain — resembling Jack Skellington mixed with the monster from Na Hong-jin's Hope (2026) — chases the group.

The movie isn't bad; it’s actually engaging for a perimenopausal female like me. I chuckled in several parts, and behind the predictable chaos lie deeper themes that parents will appreciate.

Gabby represents anyone facing an existential crisis, dreading the upheaval of leaving a familiar community. The story introduces a "Go-Backer" — a time-reversing stopwatch reminiscent of Harry Potter’s Time-Turner — to show that nostalgia and fear of change don't mean a doom-and-gloom future. Change is inevitable.

Another thoughtful theme is recognizing that a mother is an individual with her own identity, not just a caregiver. Children shouldn't judge a parent who put personal passions on hold to raise a family. Creativity remains vital, reminding us to make time for what we love.

Meanwhile, the strict landlady Patty provides classic comedic tension with her no-pets policy, forcing the kids to hide their goldfish, Waffles. Acting like a stuffy English Sebastian from The Little Mermaid, Waffles highlights how life’s hardships can make people humorless and overly controlling.

You could psychologize this cartoon to death, but it’s still the familiar Seuss character. Compared to the 2003 live-action disaster with Mike Myers, this animated take is bouncier, livelier, and far more pleasant to watch.

Its main drawback is a fear of taking risks. Directors Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja deliver no breakthroughs or fresh ideas. Still, even with the clichés, there’s no dull moment, and the Cat's box adventures are pretty cool. It’s solid entertainment to kill time at the mall.

3 out of 5 stars

Now showing

in Philippine cinemas.