The Cat in the Hat Gets a Second Chance at the Movies, This Time Animated

The 2003 live-action Cat in the Hat is the kind of film people bring up when they want to prove that a good book can become a very bad movie. So I understand the nerves around Warner Bros. Animation's new version, which arrives on November 6. The good news is that it is animated, it is a musical, and the Cat is voiced by Bill Hader, who has the exact mix of charm and chaos the character needs.

The story has the Cat sent to cheer up two siblings, Gabby and Sebastian, who are miserable after moving to a new town. Quinta Brunson, Bowen Yang, Xochitl Gomez, Matt Berry, Paula Pell, Giancarlo Esposito and America Ferrera are in the voice cast, which is a strong lineup for a kids' film. Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja wrote and directed.

Warner Bros. moved it from February to November because they think it will do better near the holidays, not because it needed more work, and that reads as confidence to me. With Godzilla opening the same day, the weekend has something for every age in the house. Are you a Seuss family, or did the 2003 film put you off for life?