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CAT IN THE HAT CAUSES CAR CRASHES; STAR MIKE MYERS CAUSES GIGGLES
from MTV's Movie House, August 13, 2003
The Cat in the Hat has wrecked more than a family's house on his way to the big screen. Earlier this year he made California traffic even worse.
"In Simi Valley, up on a hill, there were like 24 purple houses with blue roofs," said Dakota Fanning, who co-stars in this fall's adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic children's book. "You don't see that normally. So, people are driving and they're looking and they stop and — boom, boom, boom! — There [were] a couple of [minor] crashes because of that."
The 9-year-old "I Am Sam" star joined Mike Myers, who will play the title role, on the surreal "Cat in the Hat" set late last year, where filming reportedly took place until February. "[Mike] makes a joke so funny because he just adds stuff," Fanning said. "No take was the same. I always went on the set like, 'What's Mike gonna do [today]?' "
Tim Allen originally considered taking on the role of the mischief-making Cat, who visits two bored kids and wreaks havoc on their home, before Myers eventually came aboard. The "Austin Powers" star spent countless hours in the makeup chair getting outfitted to become the furry Cat — similar to the process Jim Carrey underwent for the Seuss flick "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," which made $260 million at the box office.
"There were crazy outfits," Fanning said. "And crazy hats — like a CD player hat. Mike is so nice and so hilarious. He's always just so funny and nice to everybody."
"The Cat in the Hat" cast also includes Spencer Breslin ("The Santa Clause 2"), Alec Baldwin ("The Hunt for Red October"), Kelly Preston ("Jack Frost") and Sean Hayes (TV's "Will and Grace"), who provides the voice for an animated fish. The film marks the feature directorial debut of Bo Welch, who has directed for television and was a production designer on such movies as "Men in Black II" and "Batman Returns."
Though "Cat" won't hit theaters until November, anyone itching to catch Dakota Fanning onscreen a little sooner can check her out opposite Brittany Murphy in "Uptown Girls," opening this week.

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