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Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 5.
  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Too mature for the kids who are reading the book.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 5–7

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Dubious characterization of Asians and elderly folks. Surprisingly rude and crude humor for a PG, including double entendres and other bodily function jokes.
  • Violence & scariness:

    Animals treated poorly, the Cat gets kicked in the crotch, comic mayhem. Comic peril may freak out young children.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Double entendres will go over youngest kids' heads but not yours.
  • Language:

    Some naughty words and a "dirty hoe" pun.
  • Consumerism:

    More tie-ins than a barrel of monkeys.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Joke reference to drinking and smoking, adult character gets beer.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat

Parents need to know that this movie isn't for the kids who are reading the book -- in its quest for a commercially-rewarding PG rating it has aged itself out of the youngest audience. It's not right for your five-or six-year-old. There is surprisingly rude and crude humor including double entendres and almost-swearing, potty humor, and other bodily function jokes. The Cat picks up a muddy garden implement and refers to it as "a dirty hoe" and spells out the s-word. The Cat is hit in the crotch. There is a lot of comic peril that may be too intense for younger children. An adult character drinks beer.

Read our full review by Nell Minow

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why Sally had a hard time with her friends and why Conrad had a hard time following rules.

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See all 28 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    I have never hated a movie till this one!

    Even if you ignore the slaughter of a good book- this movie is disgusting. It has the humor level of drunk college men, but marketed for children? This movie does't have any redeeming qualities.

  2. I rate this title off for age 6 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    inaproprete

    inaproprete movie for a doctor suess. and one scene with very bad language.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    I rate this title off for age 6 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message
    • Negative role models

    BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD

    Don't take your kids.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title off for age 7 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    My review

    This movie was preety good, but dont misjudge it because of the book. This movie has alot of swearing in it,son of a ***** is used but not fully heard, And the cat talks about sexual topics to the kids.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Rhode Island
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    cat in the hat is the star of childrens reading week in March

    To salute Dr Suess, Our school rented 'cat in the hat' costume from 'Bruna Costumes' in Providence, R.I. Every year we pick a character and read books that relate to it. It inspires the children to read when they see a live character and it really doesn't cost much to rent. Bruna has given schools discounts for renting their costumes for reading week. Last year we rented Clifford, the red dog. This is an excellent idea for all R.I> schools.

  6. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 3.0

    Okay..

    I liked this silly movie, but it dragged on at times.

  7. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 1.0

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in New Jersey
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 3.0

    mike myers is the cat in the hat u should've exspected it.

    mike myeres is one of my fav actors, he made this a creepy movuie though sex-yea the dirty h part. violence-he is wallaped with bats( he'sdiasguised as a pinata)then for no reason a boy comes up and whacks him where his testicles would be.

  9. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Best/funniest movie

    This may well be the funniest movie ever! Mike Myers has never been this funny. 1 star is definately mean. Alot of hard work. YOu have to see it for sure!

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

  11. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in South Carolina
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Sexual Content (Pause): Plenty of double entendres. Violence (Pause): Loads of slapstick humor. Language (Pause): Ass, son of a b----, and s--- (all incomplete), a dirty ho pun, the Cat's previous name for his car was the Super Hydrolic Instantaneous Transporter. Social Behavior (Off): The Cat, Sally, and Conrad wreck the house but clean it up in the end, Conrad and the Things are very disobedient, Lawrence wants to marry Joan just so that he can send Conrad off to military school, Lawrence lies to Joan repeatedly, elderly people and Asians are stereotyped, there is a whole lot of crude humor. Commercialism (Pause): The Cat stops the movie to advertise Universal Theme Parks and the movie's soundtrack. Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco (Pause): Lawrence carries a six-pack of beer (but we don't see him drinking it), joke references to drinking, smoking, and chewing tobacco. I think this movie should have been rated: PG-13 I recommend it to everyone aged: 9+

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Okay

    This movie is okay. But if your kid is under 10, just use the mute button when the hoe thing comes on.

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Utah
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    HIlarious Beyond Reason!

    OK, let me start out by saying this movie is flat out hilarious! But there's some iffy content for those little ones! Mike Myers brings a wonderful personality to the movie! The movie can't get serious, yet it's a good thing with this movie! I say ages 10+.

  14. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Alabama
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 2.0

    How disappointing!

    For those who are fans of the classic book, this is such a let down. There was so much unnecessary crudeness in this movie it was as if it was made to entertain the adults who were dragged by their young children to see the movie. I hate that. There are plenty of movies for grown-ups. Let the kids have the ones that are MEANT for them.

  15. Adult Reviewer
    Anonymous
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 0.0

  16. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title off for age 11 and give it 3.0

  17. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    awful

    this is officially the worst movie i've ever seen. Don't waste your money on this. Instead watch any other movie.

  18. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 3.0

  19. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 4.0

  20. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 1.0

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