A mean-spirited attack on all things Seuss.
Written by Alec Berg, David Mandel, and Jeff Schaffer. The three co-wrote EuroTrip and The Dictator (Sacha Baron Cohen shares screen writing credit with the three on The Dictator). Alec Berg co-created Barry, David Mandel co-wrote 62 episodes of Saturday Night Live, and Jeff Schaffer co-wrote Brüno and co-created Dave and The League. He co-wrote 61 episodes of The League as well. Are these three men the first candidates you would choose to penn a Dr. Seuss adaptation?
Bo Welch is one of the greatest production designers of all time, having worked on films such as Beetlejuice, Men in Black, Men in Black II, Men in Black 3, Thor, Wild Wild West, The Birdcage, Batman Returns, Ghostbusters 2, Edward Scissorhands, and The Lost Boys. His only other directing credits are 2 episodes of the 90s Tick tv show and 5 episodes of the A Series of Unfortunate Events show for Netflix. It’s hard to judge his skill as a director seeing as his work in that area is very limited. Unfortunately, if we have to go by this film alone (and it would appear we don’t have any other option), it might be best that Bo Welch stick to production design.
The production design sampled here is one of the very few highlights, looking consistently Seussian throughout. Ironically, it’s not Welch who is in charge of production design. That job falls solely to Alex McDowell, who has worked on movies like The Lawnmower Man, The Crow, The Crow II: City of Angels, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Minority Report, Fight Club, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, The Terminal, Bee Movie, Watchmen, and Man of Steel. This definitely ranks among some of his better work.
Cat in the Hat has emerged as a cult classic. It’s not one for the kids, but for the adults and weirdo’s. It’s like if someone decided to mix comedy similar to what you would find in a movie like Friendship into a Cat in the Hat adaptation. It doesn’t work except as a crazed fever dream nightmare. If you at all hold an affinity for the good doctor, you’d do best to stay far away from this one
0.5 STAR
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