The Cat in the Hat returns to the big screen in an animated adaptation that significantly improves upon the 2003 live-action attempt. While it offers genuine creativity, solid laughs, and a strong voice cast led by Bill Hader as the titular character, the film ultimately stretches its thin source material too far, resulting in pacing issues.
The film reimagines the Cat in the Hat's world as a sort of imagination-based business, an idea that echoes Pixar's Monsters, Inc. in its opening scenes. Here, anthropomorphic animals work to provide imagination and encouragement to children. This premise allows for playful nods to the Dr. Seuss universe, with rhyming rules explained by staff members voiced by talents such as Giancarlo Esposito, Bowen Yang, and Quinta Brunson. The visual design effectively contrasts the bright, off-kilter realm of the Cat with the more realistic, muted environment of the human characters, Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez), who are adjusting to a new city with their mother, Carmen (America Ferrera).
Bill Hader brings a deft comedic touch to the Cat, complemented by Matt Berry's hilarious performance as the family's pet fish, Waffles, who gains the ability to speak. The plot centers on the Cat losing a device that can rewind recent events, leading Gabby and Sebastian on a journey through imaginative versions of their own moving boxes. While this adventure shares some thematic similarities with Inside Out, it introduces unique elements with objects and toys coming to life.
The film's primary drawback is its length. Clocking in just under two hours, it becomes overstuffed with multiple converging plotlines in its third act. The movie juggles the Cat's quest for his lost device, a pursuit by a creature known as "Something," the jeopardy of the Cat's job, and a subplot involving the family's landlord. This overcompensation for the brevity of the original book leads to noticeable dragging as the story nears its conclusion.
Despite these pacing issues, The Cat in the Hat remains enjoyable due to its likability and humor. The popular Thing 1 and Thing 2 characters are expanded into a group of "Thing" creatures, delivering a chaotic energy reminiscent of Gremlins. The film even includes a meta-commentary on the potential for merchandising these characters, acknowledging it with a knowing wink. The review from IGN notes that while the film could have benefited from a more rigorous edit to trim extraneous subplots, it stands as a funny, clever, and heartwarming expansion of the beloved character.