The Cat in the Hat (2003)
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A mischievous cat arrives at a house during a rainy day to provide entertainment for two siblings, leading to a trail of chaotic destruction.
The story
While their mother is away at work, siblings Sally and Conrad Walden are left in the care of a lethargic babysitter. They are strictly forbidden from entering the living room, which is being prepared for a high-stakes party. However, the rules are upended when the Cat in the Hat arrives. The whimsical but chaotic feline intends to liven up the children's rainy day with a series of wild activities. As the Cat introduces his mischievous companions, the children must navigate the escalating mayhem and the consequences of breaking their mother's rules while the house is transformed into a scene of utter chaos.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Conrad and Sally Walden are left home alone by their mother, Joan, who is preparing for a corporate party. Their babysitter, Mrs. Kwan, falls asleep, and the Cat in the Hat arrives to 'lighten up' their day. The Cat releases two chaotic entities, Thing 1 and Thing 2, from a mysterious crate. When Conrad breaks the lock on the crate, the family dog, Nevins, escapes. The children, the Cat, and the Things go on a wild journey to find the dog, encountering a dishonest neighbor named Larry Quinn who is trying to swindle Joan. After a series of surreal events and a chase involving a super-powered car, the trio returns home to find the house transformed into 'The Mother of All Messes.' After a final confrontation with Larry and a magical cleanup by the Cat, the house is restored just as Joan returns. The children reconcile with the Cat, and the film ends with the Cat and the Things walking into the sunset while the children enjoy their mother's company.
- First release year
- 2003
- Runtime (minutes)
- 82
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Bo Welch
- Writers
- Alec Berg · screenplay; David Mandel · screenplay; Jeff Schaffer · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Mike Myers · the Cat in the Hat; Alec Baldwin · Lawrence "Larry" Quinn; Kelly Preston · Joan Walden; Dakota Fanning · Sally Walden; Spencer Breslin · Conrad Walden; Amy Hill · Mrs. Kwan; Sean Hayes · Mr. Hank Humberfloob; Sean Hayes · the family fish
- Genres
- fantasy; comedy
- Themes
- mischief; imagination
- Tone and mood
- whimsical; chaotic
- Premise and plot tags
- fantasy; comedy; children's film
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1957 book of the same name by Dr. Seuss
- Content notes
- slapstick
- Reception
- The film was a box-office disappointment and received overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 3.4 · scale: 10 · review count: 159; Metacritic · score: 19 · scale: 100 · review count: 37
- Awards and nominations
- BMI Film Music Award · score · win; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Picture · nomination; Golden Raspberry Awards · Worst Director · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's production was delayed until after the success of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!; The full-body Cat costume is currently for sale.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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