I was lucky enough to watch an advance screening of The Cat in the Hat. This film was fantastic! While I figured the movie would have fun, colorful, and humorous elements that you usually see in Dr. Seuss’s work, what I didn’t expect was how much heart the story had. While there were many funny moments, I felt emotionally touched by several parts of the film.
When I think of Dr. Seuss’s original The Cat in the Hat, I think of this mischievous cat who shows up at someone’s house uninvited and causes absolute chaos. He creates one problem after another, and somehow, things usually get worse before they get better. I’ve always found him entertaining, but I never really thought much about why he does what he does. That’s something I enjoyed learning more about in this movie.
Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) is a young girl that has just moved to a new city for her family. Her mom, Carmen (America Ferrera), and her little brother, Sebastian (Tiago Martinez), have also made the move. Although her mom believes the move is best for her children’s goals and they will be able to create a good home here, Gabby is really struggling with adjusting to the move. She misses her old life and just wants to go back to her old home, friends and life.
And I think that’s something a lot of people, especially children can relate to. Moving somewhere new isn’t always easy, particularly when you feel like you’ve left everything you love behind.
Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, Gabby’s situation catches the attention of a certain cat wearing a very familiar red-and-white striped hat.
Voiced by Bill Hader, the Cat in the Hat is assigned to help Gabby and Sebastian find happiness again. But there’s a catch. The Cat works for an organization called the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration, and his job is literally to bring joy into children’s lives.
The problem? He’s an absolute agent of chaos.
The Cat has actually had quite a few successful assignments helping children in the past. Unfortunately, he also has a pretty bad habit of causing a significant amount of damage while doing so. His boss, who is no fan of the Cat in the Hat, has finally had enough of his antics and gives him one last chance to prove that he can do his job without destroying everything around him. If he fails, he’ll be fired and lose his beloved magical hat forever.
But asking the Cat in the Hat to avoid making a mess is almost like asking a fish not to swim. You know disaster is likely coming, but you can’t help rooting for him anyway.
I really enjoyed this storyline because it gives us a chance to learn more about the Cat in the Hat beyond the book. He remains mischievous, impulsive and utterly unpredictable, but we also see how much he loves doing what he does, and I really loved watching every minute of it. He really does care about all the kids that he is assigned to care for, Gabby included, even if every now and then, things don’t go as planned.
Another character I absolutely loved was Sherrie, the Cat in the Hat’s best friend, voiced by the iconic Quinta Brunson of Abbott Elementary. Sherrie works in human resources and is one of the few characters who truly understands and believes in the Cat in the Hat, even through the most difficult moments. I loved their friendship because it brought additional warmth and comedy to the story. She’s always supporting him, although I’m sure she gives herself countless headaches from time to time with all the trouble he gets himself into.
And what would The Cat in the Hat be without the Things?
Without giving too much away, we get to see Thing One and Thing Three, and the movie even explores the question of what happened to Thing Two. I thought the Things were such a fun addition, especially for anyone familiar with the original story. It’s one of those little surprises that makes the movie even more entertaining.
Visually, this animated movie is absolutely phenomenal. Every single scene is so colorful, imaginative, and bursting with personality. Each new environment feels like something that could only exist in the wonderfully beautiful but bizarre world of Dr. Seuss. I loved how the filmmakers weren’t afraid to truly push the visuals and really embrace the fabulous absurdity of it all. There is so much happening on screen, but that’s part of the animated fun.
Bill Hader brings the perfect combination of comedy, troublemaking, and heart to his role as the Cat. I loved Quinta Brunson as Sherrie, and thought that Xochitl Gomez was very good at capturing how difficult it would be for Gabby to adjust to her new home. I also enjoyed Tiago Martinez as Sebastian, who added some really fun moments to the movie. I really enjoyed America Ferrera’s portrayal of Carmen, the loving mother trying to do the right thing by providing for her children, while she helps them navigate this big change.
However, what I loved most about The Cat in the Hat wasn’t necessarily the gorgeous animation or the hilarious moments. It was the message behind the story.
At its heart, this is a movie about family, change, friendship, and learning to embrace the unexpected. It’s about understanding that life doesn’t always go the way we want it to, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find happiness in the circumstances we’re given.
I especially appreciated how the Cat encourages the children to look beyond their fears and frustrations, embrace their imaginations, and discover their own dreams and desires. He doesn’t always have the right answers, and he certainly doesn’t always make the best decisions, but his heart is in the right place.
And I think that’s what makes this version of the Cat so special.
He is more than just a cat in a funny hat who enjoys disrupting the lives of everyone around him. He actually wants to help children become happier and more confident in themselves. As crazy as some of the things he does are, I found it really touching to see just how much he cares about bringing happiness and joy to children who are struggling. His methods might be questionable at times, but I don’t think anyone can question how much he cares.
I also loved that the movie doesn’t completely change his personality to make him more likable. He’s still outrageous, impulsive, and an absolute menace at times. But he’s also caring, and those two sides of his personality are what make him so entertaining.
I left the screening with a huge smile on my face. I knew I was going to enjoy the humor, but I honestly didn’t expect to feel as emotional as I did. I think children are going to have a wonderful time watching all the crazy things the Cat gets himself into, and I also think adults will enjoy the story, particularly when it comes to Gabby struggling to adjust to her new life.
I really enjoyed the way the movie depicted that life changes aren’t always simple, particularly if they’re not changes you even wanted in the first place. Gabby had to give up her friends, her home, and her life, and I was glad that the movie didn’t simply dismiss these feelings. I also enjoyed seeing that behind all the crazy antics and methods, the Cat in the Hat is truly trying to help Gabby realize that moving to another place doesn’t mean she can’t be happy again. Despite her life not going her way immediately, there are always new experiences and things that can bring her happiness if she’s open to them.
I absolutely loved The Cat in the Hat. The animation was phenomenal, the voice acting was fantastic, and there were some interesting surprises. I thought the story was both entertaining and incredibly touching. I really enjoyed getting to see a more personal side of the Cat in the Hat while still having all the chaos and ridiculous moments that make him such a fun legendary character.
It is a visually striking, wonderful, family-friendly movie, and I think both children and adults will have a great time watching it. I certainly did.
If you grew up reading Dr. Seuss books or are discovering this wonderfully chaotic Cat in the Hat for the first time, this is one animated adventure you should not miss.
The Cat in the Hat opens in theaters today, November 6, 2026.
