Reviews are starting to arrive for the latest big-screen adaptation of Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat, and its projected Rotten Tomatoes score is dropping.
Kalshi traders lowered their projected Tomatometer score for The Cat in the Hat from 64.4% Tuesday to 49% on Wednesday evening.
For informational purposes only. Not trading advice. See full disclaimer below.
What is it about?
The newest Cat in the Hat film expands Dr. Seuss' whimsical universe by exploring the title character's backstory.
The Cat in the Hat, voiced by Bill Hader, works for the Institute for the Institution of Imagination and Inspiration. His job is in jeopardy after he botches several assignments to help bored children tap into their imaginations. He is sent on a mission to cheer up two kids, Gabby and Sebastian, who are stuck at home while their mother, Carmen, voiced by America Ferrera, is at work.
The positive reviews
Positive reviews praised the film's vibrant animation and imaginative expansion of Dr. Seuss' classic story.
Deadline Hollywood’s Pete Hammond praised the film's storytelling and varied visual styles.
“The ever-changing visual styles are also a welcome innovation over the usual CGI-driven toons aimed at kids these days,” Hammond wrote. “This one is a genuine treat for everyone in the family.”
IGN’s Eric Goldman praised the film's seamless transitions between two visually distinct worlds.
“The Cat in the Hat shows genuine creativity from the start, beginning with its distinct visual interpretation of its two worlds,” Goldman wrote. “The realm the Cat and his colleagues live in appears much more bright, colorful, and off-kilter compared to the more realistic and muted feel given to Gabby and Sebastian’s apartment life.”
The Film Verdict’s Alonso Duralde liked the film's unconventional, Andy Kaufman-esque humor for challenging younger audiences.
“It may not seem like a big deal, but given how many kids-movie directors underestimate their audience’s attention span, cramming sound and action and sensation into every moment, this deliberately deliberate gag deserves its praise,” Duralde wrote.
The negative reviews
Negative reviews criticized the film's cluttered storytelling, excessive spectacle and reliance on familiar children's movie formulas.
Variety’s Owen Gleiberman criticized the celebrity voice acting and suggested the film felt designed to launch a larger franchise.
“The Cat in the Hat is junior Marvel surrealism, but it’s also a de facto video-game movie dreams up for a game that doesn’t exist: The Cat in the Hat Saves the Universe,” Gleiberman wrote.
The Associated Press’ Mark Kennedy wrote that the film is just another expensive production that delivers underwhelming results.
“Directed by Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni, who also wrote the screenplay, The Cat in the Hat is what happens when lots and lots of money gets thrown at a movie with middling returns,” Kennedy wrote.
The Boston Globe’s Odie Henderson calls The Cat in the Hat an unnecessary film that borrows plots from better kids’ films.
“Granted, you’ll recognize Thing One and Thing Two, the cat’s red and white chapeau, the worried fish (Matt Berry), and that sweeper thing the Cat pulls out at the end of the book,” Henderson wrote. “But everything you remember from your childhood reading has been corrupted in favor of a new, mean-spirited story that rips off Monsters, Inc. and plays like a bad episode of The Twilight Zone.”
The takeaway:
Kalshi markets now predict:
The Cat in the Hat’s Rotten Tomatoes rating: 45.7%
Follow Danny Gallagher on Instagram: @writerdannygallagher
Follow Kalshi on X: @Kalshi | Image Source:
The opinions and perspectives presented in this article belong solely to the author. This is not financial advice and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to trade any specific product. Information is provided for convenience only on an "AS IS" basis. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. 18+ only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Trading event contracts and trading leveraged products, including perpetual futures, involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Please carefully consider if it is appropriate for you in light of your personal financial circumstances. Kalshi products are not available in all jurisdictions. See kalshi.com/regulatory for more information. Kalshi is subject to U.S. regulatory oversight by the CFTC.
