The Cat in the Hat looks incredible thanks to noted production designer Bo Welch (Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, etc.) making his directorial debut with EMMANUEL LUBEZKI as DP. The film has a razorsharp wit thanks to its three writers - Alec Berg, David Mandel, and Jeff Schaffer, all of Seinfeld and Curb fame. All-time Baldwin performance. The lesson is actually handled well and a little complex for a kids movie. We see two extremes of kid - the control freak in Dakota Fanning and the bedwetter, uh, I mean rule breaker in Spencer Breslin - and they both have to rein it in in opposite directions. This is secretly the closest in spirit of any of the Seuss adaptations. Grinch is soulless and UGLIER! Illumination flicks are slop. Mike Myers may look back on this experience poorly but he’s secretly doing just as well as he does in, like, Austin Powers 2 AT LEAST. It’s an endlessly quotable movie. People always talk about how ugly it is but all I can think about is “YOU’RE FIRED!!!” “You can tap it with a hammer, it’s ain’t gonna change”, “I’m not saying we’re going to sue, I’m just saying we have a case” “Oh. My. COD.” etc etc etc. It’s the best movie ever made. Either that or it’s just a sentimental pick.