The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat

Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat, The (1982)

*** (out of 4)

This fun tale from Dr. Seuss takes two of his most loved characters and throws them into one film. The Grinch wakes up one morning smiling and singing but the "Grinch in the mirror" makes his take the Grinch's oath so he must then go out and be mean. The first person he runs into is the Cat in the Hat and soon the two are going at it. This film falls well short of the two movies where are heroes were first introduced but this is still a very enjoyable film that manages to be beautiful to look at and we get many funny gags as well. The entire opening sequence with the Grinch being happy was very delightful but so were the scenes where he turns into his old self. The majority of the running time has the Grinch trying to drive the cat crazy by doing a wide range of things like using a certain ray to make the cat sound like a cow. The animation is at the top of the game with the same beautiful colors that you've come to expect from a Seuss movie. Just check out how wonderful the actual look is during a sequence where the cat is driving in circles to get to his castle. Another funny bit happens right at the very end but I won't spoil it for those unfamiliar with the film. If you're a fan of the characters then the 25-minute running time flies by with one good moment after another.

Accidentally stumbled upon this after watching the Christmas classic. Cool to see a grinch cartoon that wasn't the Christmas one. Very psychedelic animation. Nice emotional elements that touched me.

I can't remember the first time I watched this 1982 Dr. Seuss TV special. I have been familiar with it since about as far back as I can remember, back when I used to watch it regularly on a video tape that also featured another Dr. Seuss animated short, "Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?", and LOVED both of those cartoons! I recently watched them both again, and I obviously wouldn't think the same of them as I did back in the day, but I can't forget how much I used to enjoy them, and how big a part of my early childhood they were!

The story features two of Dr. Seuss' characters that were already famous by the time this was made. They are the Grinch (introduced in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", and the Cat in the Hat (introduced in the book of the same name). One beautiful morning, the Grinch wakes up whistling, very happily, something which has never happened before! However, when his image in the mirror makes him repeat the Grinch's Oath, he is back to normal. He goes out to prove he's a Grinch, by causing trouble! Meanwhile, the Cat in the Hat sets out for a picnic, and doesn't know that the Grinch will make the day very difficult for him!

I've just commented on "Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?", and stated, "If I had just seen this Dr. Seuss TV special for the first time, I highly doubt my rating would be 10/10. Usually, I wouldn't rate something based on what I thought of it years ago, but in this case, I loved 'Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?' so much way back in the day that I feel that what I think of it now shouldn't apply!" I think I can say the same about "The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat". The Grinch and the Cat in the Hat are two very popular characters, and putting them together in a story was an excellent idea! This short also has some catchy songs sung by the characters, good animation, some humour, and a message, which you would normally expect from a Dr. Seuss story! Without a doubt, kids should LOVE it!

It may not be a classic but it's still enjoyable. As far as crossovers go this one's ok. It's interesting to see how the Cat and the Grinch react to each other. The Grinch gets offended when the Cat calls him "Green face" while apologizing. From that point on, the Grinch basically stalks and trolls him throughout the rest of the movie. The animation's pretty good and the voice acting is solid. There's even a trippy sequence that involves the Cat being at a restaurant being served by waiters. There's not much to say other than if you're curious go ahead and check it out.

I love the writing and stories of Dr Seuss, they are funny, witty, colourful and charming with great characters and amusing plots. The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are Dr Seuss at his best. The cartoon versions are timeless classics, and when it comes to the live-action versions Grinch is inferior but not as bad as it is made out to be in my opinion but Cat in the Hat is an abomination and the anti-thesis of the story it is based upon.

So what is this special? Well it is classic Dr Seuss, with not one but two classic Dr Who characters, The Grinch and Cat in the Hat. These two are great and iconic on their own, just imagine them together, for me it was a wonderful treat and so much fun. The story of The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat is simple, but has all the charm and fun of Dr Seuss's work. The dialogue is also very funny and witty.

The animation also impresses, it is very colourful and vibrant and sticks true to the style of the illustrations, while the music is equally energetic and playful. The pace is spot on, brisk and with seldom a dull moment, and both characters are wonderful to watch and exude an entertaining chemistry. The voice work is faultless, of course there will be inevitable comparisons with the original voice actors, but these voice actors are just as worthy and do a terrific job.

In conclusion, clever and entertaining special. 10/10 Bethany Cox