Netflix Gets Two Adaptations Of Beloved Author’s Iconic Characters

In the book, the cat in the hat arrives to entertain two children for the day while their mother is out. He makes a big mess; the kids order him to leave, and he does. The children fear their mother will be upset when she sees the mess, but before she can arrive, the cat in the hat returns to clean up and wish them well. The story is fun, it rhymes, and kids love imagining what they would do if their mother was out. 

In the Dr Seuss film coming to Netflix, the story has changed quite a bit. With Mike Meyers starring as the cat in the hat, Kelly Preston stars as the mother, with Dakota Fanning, and Spencer Breslin playing the kids, Sally and Conrad, the plot is more complicated. Mother (Joan) is a single woman who leaves for the day to date the next-door neighbor, a mean, slovenly, broke loser, Larry (Alec Baldwin), who aims to trick Joan into marrying him for her money. He also hopes to send Conrad off to military school. 

While Joan is out, the cat in the hat arrives to entertain the kids, along with Thing 1 and Thing 2, but he also brings a box that’s a portal into his world. The cat then wreaks havoc but also helps the kids get Larry out of the way. There’s also a babysitter involved, who sleeps through the whole thing. Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat, soon to be on Netflix, is not one of the best out there, but it’s worth a watch.

The Lorax, in stark contrast, is superb. It can’t be all that surprising considering, first, that it’s animated, which is always a better choice with these books, and, second, that it’s an Illumination project. Seuss actually brought the idea to Illumination founder Chris Meledandri himself before he died. And the results are wonderful. This Dr Seuss film is not only a must-watch but also a must-rewatch on Netflix this summer and fall. 

In Dr Seuss’s book, a boy, Ted, lives in a world filled with pollution, and he wanders outside of his town to figure out if it could be different. He meets a reclusive old man named the Once-ler (voiced by Ed Helms), who tells the story of his greed and how he figured he could chop down all the Truffula trees to make garments. The Lorax, who speaks for the trees, warns the Once-ler that what he’s doing will destroy the environment and no one will be happy, but the business magnate doesn’t listen. By the book’s end, Ted is given a Truffula seed to start a new forest. 

In Dr Seuss’ The Lorax, which is also coming to Netflix, the story is expanded. Ted (Zac Efron) is accompanied by Audrey (Taylor Swift) and the Lorax (Danny DeVito), who helps them see the power of rebuilding even from seemingly nothing. The kids convince their town to overthrow the greedy mayor who bottles fresh air for sale, and together, they all start to rebuild with that single seed. The story is a beautifully revolutionary message for kids who want to make a difference.