The Cat in the Hat arrived in theaters and IMAX on November 6 as the first full-length feature from Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. Bill Hader voices the Cat, an agent who must cheer two siblings after their move to a new town. The last time we had a film based on the Dr. Seuss books was the 2003 live action adaptation. This one sparks a new story and adventure with similar cat mischief and family friendly fun. We got to sit down with the Directors and cast who voice the film to chat all about it.
Directors Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni are no strangers to the animation and comedy world. Their genius minds came together for this film and they brought their comedic touches. They definitely share a similar sense of humor, and one scene shows it. There is a part where the family fish swims across the screen in total silence, even though the composer and the editor both asked for sound. “Nothing happened for 48 seconds and everyone in the theater laughed,” Carloni said. “So I’m very proud of that.”
The film also has hilarious moments that make fun of people we probably all have in our lives with “Live laugh love” decor in their homes. That was intentionally. There are jokes for kids and parents alike.
The film like most children animated films explores several themes and lessons that are great reminders to us all. One of them being that usually our parents were cool people even if we don’t see them in the light because they are parents. Carmen, the mother in the film, once loved art and music. Rivinoja said that choice came from her own life. “I think it’s important because I’m a mom, and I think that sometimes kids don’t appreciate that their parents used to be normal people and cool and creative people as well,” she added.
America Ferrera said work can make her forget why she loves her craft. Her answer is to take classes in tap dance and piano. “Learning something new that’s creative reminds me of what it was like to be at the beginning,” she said.
Xochitl Gomez voices Gabby, who calls her mother boring. Playing her made her reflect on her own mother. “I always just adore my mom,” Gomez said. “My mom’s like so cool.”
Quinta Brunson (Abbot Elementary) voice Sherri from HR. Of course, I had to ask if she has ever broken any rules in her career. She pointed to her start in digital comedy being untraditional far from the elite schools many of her peers attended. “A lot of people have considered it rule breaking, and here we are,” she said.
Giancarlo Esposito plays Mr. Hoogeboom, the Cat’s boss and villain of the film. Early in his career, casting offices saw him only through his race. “I grew up at a time in my career where I was limited to playing the color of my skin, and for me there was always a bigger dream to play human being,” he said.
As mentioned earlier, creativity was the common subject at the junket, and each person described a different way to protect it. The film offers its young audience the same lesson. Late in the story, Waffles the fish tells Patty to break a few rules and enjoy her life. The Cat in the Hat is now playing in theaters and IMAX.
