'The Cat in the Hat' Alec Baldwin's Villainous Turn
Alec Baldwin has a long and illustrious career having been in TV shows including 30 Rock and the Mission Impossible series. Still, one of his most distinctive and divisive performances came in the 2003 Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat adaption.
Larry Quinn: The Villainous Neighbour
Baldwin plays Conrad and Sally's next-door neighbor, Larry Quinn, in the movie. Tightly coiled and rigid, Quinn plans to send the kids to military school and finds their wild behavior objectionable. Trying to stop the Cat in the Hat from approaching the kids and therefore foiling his intentions to win over their aunt, he becomes into the main enemy in the movie.
"The Cat in the Hat": a commercial and critical misfit
When Bo Welch's Cat in the Hat came out, it was both a commercial and critical letdown. Though it drew on a renowned children's book, Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie a dismal 10%. The way the movie adapted the source material and Mike Myers's over-the-top portrayal of the Cat in the Hat most certainly contributed to this poor review.
The negative reception of the movie resulted in a ban on more live-action Dr. Seuss adaptation projects by his widow, Aubrey Geisel. This choice essentially confirmed The Cat in the Hat as a misfire and hence terminated all intentions for sequels. Though it was critically poor, the movie has grown to have a cult following since viewers value its crazy humor and wild energy.
Baldwin's Dedication to a Faulty Film
Though the movie received mostly bad reviews, Baldwin's portrayal as Larry Quinn is sometimes hailed for its dedication and comic timing. Quinn is a remarkable and somewhat terrifying villain since he gives a frantic and over-the-top intensity to the part. Notwithstanding the flaws in the movie, Baldwin's dedication to the part emphasizes his passion to his trade even on a production that finally fell short of expectations.
The true villain is the cat in the hat.
Although Larry Quinn is the primary enemy of The Cat in the Hat, the cat itself is really the genuine evil of the movie. Myers presents the famous figure in a quirky and too theatrical manner. Though apparently wild and lighthearted, the Cat's antics are often destructive and detrimental to the kids, implying a more sinister underbeneer under the surface. This duality makes the Cat an interesting, although somewhat imperfect villain.
The Cat in the Hat is an original and fun movie despite its shortcomings. Though movie might not be a critical darling, Alec Baldwin and Mike Myers give outstanding performances, and viewers for years have connected with its turbulent intensity. The fact that the movie is available on Netflix gives a fresh generation of viewers the chance to see this eccentric and contentious retelling of a famous children's classic.
