I’m stoked when the fates choose ‘Children’s Films’ as the next stage of my yuletide audiovisual adventure. Unlike Hallmark flicks, most kids’ films aren’t concerned with icky romance or existential crises. Kids’ films are almost always all about just having fun.
As a dad, I’ve been exposed to a wide array of kiddie-friendly movies and shows. I’ve even enjoyed some of it. Well-made movies like Frozen II and inventive, anarchic shows like Teen Titans Go! have kept me entertained over the last few years. If kids’ content is done with real heart, imagination and effort, there’s no reason it can’t appeal to all ages. So, I’m gleefully anticipating a month of films filled with cute animation, positive messages and, hopefully, just the right amount of seasonal cheer. Though I’m also aware that a lot of stuff aimed at kids is lazy, braindead rubbish, so I’m not getting too carried away.
First up is the enjoyable The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About Christmas, a fun and educational 2012 feature-length animated special spun out of a popular kids’ TV show based on the beloved Dr Seuss books. Amelia used to watch the show when she was small and I always enjoyed its entertaining mix of manic shenanigans, colourful imagery and catchy, tongue-twisting songs, all about thingamajigs and whatchamacallits.
As in the series, Martin Short voices the Cat, having a ball singing his heart out and imparting knowledge while being silly. Here, he joins his human child buddies Sally and Nick in helping a lost baby reindeer find its way home in time for Christmas, getting into various crazy scrapes along the way. The hand-drawn animation is crude by today’s flashy CGI standards, but it’s all part of the old school Seuss-y charm.
There's a pleasant vibe to it, with different talking animals all being nice and trying to help each other. It’s not every day you see a crab giving a helping claw to a baby reindeer and the film-makers take care to keep everything educational. I learn a lot about reindeer, so it’s worth it just for that.
The songs come thick and fast, with lyrics about festive “magic in the air” and some Christmassy reworkings of familiar tunes that are staples of the show. It’s harmless fun, with Short throwing himself into it, instilling things with an irresistible sense of giddy abandon. It’s a top performance – the Cat is cocky, enthusiastic and just a little bit camp. He has an answer for everything but always makes sure to do things the funnest way possible, causing messy chaos along the way.
Younger kids will likely love this – it’s packed with madcap imagination, crazy gadgets and silly solutions to everyday problems, involving Jigamawhizzers and Shrinkamadoodles. The Cat’s hyperactive antics may prove a bit much for adults, but this makes me smile and it’s fun and educational. What more could you wish for?
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