The Cat in the Hat review: warm, with a great Bill Hader

The new animated Cat in the Hat isn't the best animated movie of the year, but it's warm and cute, and it's something you can catch with your kids on the couch at home. That's my first take walking out of the theater, ahead of the review embargo lifting. Bill Hader voices the cat, and I think he's great in the role.

This is the latest telling of the classic Dr. Seuss story. I still read it to my kids, even if they're maybe growing out of it. I don't care. "It's a classic."

The Cat in the Hat gets one last shot with a new family

In this version, the cat works for an organization. His job is to work with kids and make sure childhood is preserved, but he keeps causing a mess. His boss, played by Giancarlo Esposito, tells him what he's doing isn't working out and that he's out. He gets one more shot, though, with a new family whose kids aren't doing the best. They made me think, maybe, of the main character from Inside Out.

This animated Dr. Seuss film targets kids more than adults

I think the great animated movies target adults and kids. With its humor and everything else in it, I think this one targets kids. I think my nine year old will enjoy it, and I'd guess anywhere from maybe five to 10 year olds would enjoy this one.

There are many jokes that fall flat, and the story is a little predictable. The film takes elements from Inside Out and Toy Story, and it definitely tries some things that make it seem like the Minions. Overall, that stuff doesn't work.

The warm message and Bill Hader are what work

What does work is that it's warm and has a nice message. There are some nice moments telling children, "Hey, embrace your childhood. Embrace this." It isn't only for the kids, either: the adults in the story get some nice moments too.

The second half, I thought, was better than the first, and it's a warm movie by the end. Do I think it's the best animated movie of the year? No. Do I think it's something you can catch with your kids sitting on the couch at home? Sure.