A modern movie version of a Dr. Seuss book
has been delivered - but at a cost.
Like each adult looks at the joys of youth,
some magic is inevitably lost.
"The Cat in the Hat" opened last Friday
at cinemas all over the nation,
but despite a great cast and a barrel of laughs,
it was not worth the anticipation.
Mike Myers plays the Cat in the Hat.
He appeared on Oprah to promote the show.
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Dakota Fanning and Kelly Preston pitched in,
plugging the film, saying, Go!
Companies cashed in on the film
with cute little ads full of rhyme.
Master Card, Burger King and Radio Shack,
all used the Cat to make a dime.
The exploitation of the Cat for cash,
would leave any Seuss fan heavy-hearted,
but worse still, fans saw every good scene
of the film before it even started.
The commercials do score some laughs,
and they definitely got butts into movie
chairs.
The film is now number one in the U.S.,
so if audiences are let down - well, who
cares?
The film itself has its moments.
The elaborate setting is quite nifty.
It refreshes one's memory,
but it's not really worth the eight-fifty.
Myers is his usual self,
listen closely and you'll hear Austin Powers.
The lines are delivered in the same way,
and with repetition, his comedy sours.
Little kids will likely enjoy it,
they'll giggle as Cat sings his song.
They'll laugh at Thing 1 and 2's antics,
and won't know that the plot is all wrong.
Dr. Seuss' Cat never took
children Sally and Conrad outside,
but Myers with his odd-looking car
takes the kids for a quick joyride.
There are some amusing scenes
where Myers, as Cat, cuts loose,
but the most magical, charming moments,
are not thanks to Myers - but Seuss.
Dakota Fanning and Spencer Breslin
are examples of the film's success,
their talented portrayals of the children
capture the charm Seuss' books possess.
In all, the film would be better,
if there hadn't been promos galore.
With all the hype, it's inevitable,
that audiences will leave wanting more.
