The Hollywood Reporter’s youngest critics share their opinions about the big-screen adaptation of Netflix’s popular preschool series starring Laila Lockhart Kraner as Gabby.
Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie.’
DreamWorks Animation
The Hollywood Reporter‘s official review of Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie declared that the big-screen adaptation of Netflix’s hit preschool series is for the kids. So THR went straight to the core audience of Ryan Crego’s 98-minute cat-adventure, starring Laila Lockhart Kraner as Gabby (along with Gloria Estefan as her grandma, Gigi, and Kristen Wiig as eccentric cat lady Vera), to ask Gabby’s biggest fans what they had to say about the interactive road trip to “Cat Francisco” — and what magical lessons they picked up along the way.
Lily, 7
I WAS HOPING TO SEE… I couldn’t wait to see the dollhouse go wild on the street. I saw that in the trailer.
THE MOVIE IS ABOUT… When you get older, you can still play with your old toys.
MY FAVORITE PART… When MerCat sang her song [“Kaleidoscope”], because everything got so glimmery!
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY… How did the magic get inside the cat ears?
Savannah, 6
Image Credit: DreamWorks Animation I WAS HOPING TO SEE… Gabby go to MerCat’s cruise ship and then go underwater and be mermaids.
THE MOVIE IS ABOUT… Missing your old friends, seeing all these new people and trying to make friends.
MY FAVORITE PART… When Gabby had the sparkles in her hands and she threw them out to save them.
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER… MerCat. Because someone [Vera] took her and put her in this cool ocean area, and the more she sang the more really cool and magical animals came.
MY FAVORITE OUTFIT… The outfit that Kitty Fairy was wearing.
MY LEAST FAVORITE PART… When [Chumsley] put too much magic [in the soup] and the dollhouse went crazy, and everybody was getting sucked in.
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY’S SISTER… They never told us that Gabby had a sister, ever! I think she is the same age as Gabby was when she got her dollhouse. What do you look like?
Ryann, 6
I WAS HOPING TO SEE… The Gabby ferris wheel, and the Gabby stuffy when you win a prize.
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER… Cakey, Gabby, Pandy, DJ Catnip and Pillow Cat — and MerCat and CatRat and everyone.
MY FAVORITE PART… When Pandy “hug attacks” Gabby.
MY FAVORITE OUTFIT… The mermaid outfit. I really liked every outfit.
I LAUGHED WHEN… The banana man played with the kids [before the dollhouse rolled away]. And when Vera sang her song!
Meadow, 5
Image Credit: DreamWorks Animation THE MOVIE IS ABOUT…. Gabby’s dollhouse went rolling down the hill and the bad guy who loves cats took it. Gabby needed the help of her Grandma, Gigi. She has her own cat ears. They both get tiny. When Vera got Gigi’s ears, she also got tiny. Her friend had a hard name to remember [Chumsley, voiced by Jason Mantzoukas]. He reminded me of Lotso [the bear from Toy Story 2]. Chumsley didn’t want to be back in that drawer, so Chumsley was about to not like Vera, but in the end it was happily ever after and she liked him and decided not to put Chumsley in the drawer. Vera wanted to play, even though she’s a grown up.
MY LEAST FAVORITE PART… The girl [Vera] was scary in the beginning. But I did like her song. I don’t even know what she was saying, she was too funny! And I loved everything else.
MY FAVORITE PART… I loved Gabby’s outfits. I liked the queen outfit [with Kitty Fairy], the mermaid outfit and Gabby’s regular outfit.
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER… Cakey, because she has sprinkles. I liked the part when she couldn’t cry sprinkles!
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY… Can I see your sister’s room?
Liv, 5
I WAS HOPING TO SEE… Gabby, Baby Box, Cakey and Pandy Paws ride on a ferris wheel. And take a ferry to the amusement park.
THE MOVIE IS ABOUT… Somebody drives the dollhouse and then Gabby and Pandy, when they got there, CatRat loses them. The dollhouse was going down the street and Gabby was trying to get it, and then a bad guy comes out, some cat person [Vera].
MY FAVORITE PART… The mermaid part. Because Gabby had paint on her face and a beautiful tail.
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER… Gabby. She was wearing my favorite color, pink. My favorite outfit was her mermaid outfit. She also had different hair. I love the song [“Kaleidoscope”]. I just love Gabby.
MY LEAST FAVORITE PART… The bad guy [Vera], because she was mean to Gabby.
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY… What is your favorite snack, and do you like jewelry?
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY’S SISTER… Do you have curly hair?
Eden, 5
THE MOVIE IS ABOUT… Gabby’s dollhouse rolled away and Gabby had to run after it and find the dollhouse.
MY FAVORITE PART… I liked when Vera said she had to shower in a high-pitch singing voice (laughs). I am still laughing about it!
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER… Kitty Fairy because she has a flower tail and is magical.
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY… I like cats, too! Can I go on an adventure with you?
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY’S SISTER… What kind of dogs do you like?
Tyler, 4
Image Credit: DreamWorks Animation I WAS HOPING TO SEE… Gabby’s birthday party in the movie.
THE MOVIE IS ABOUT… Someone took the dollhouse and Gabby went to go rescue it. She was driving with Gigi, her grandma.
MY FAVORITE PART… I couldn’t choose, I loved the whole movie! I was so surprised to find out Gabby has a sister!
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER… Gabby’s grandma, Gigi.
MY LEAST FAVORITE PART… When the gummy worms came out and tried to get the Gabby Cats.
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY… Could you let me borrow the dollhouse with you in it?
Zoey, 4
I WAS HOPING TO SEE… An adventure with CatRat to go see Gabby. CatRat, I’m gonna bring you something shiny!
MY FAVORITE PART… When the whole dollhouse was clean [and back to normal] in the end.
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER… CatRat and the little guy [Chumsley] who was making the soup.
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY’S SISTER… Why weren’t you in the movie?
Calvin, 4
I WAS HOPING TO SEE… How Gabby finds the dollhouse.
MY FAVORITE PART… When the baby-toppers flushed CatRat in the toilet!
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER… Kitty Fairy because the acorn friends sang about her and thought she was the queen — but she’s actually not!
MY LEAST FAVORITE PART… I didn’t like the scary parts — Vera the Cat Lady and Chumsley the Bear and the teeny-tiny pencil babies. They were acting too crazy!
MY QUESTION FOR GABBY’S SISTER… I’m surprised that Gabby made that dollhouse for her little sister. I want to know more about the doggie friends inside.
Kenzie, 3
I WAS HOPING TO SEE… All of the characters who are in the Gabby’s Dollhouse TV show, especially MerCat and Cakey.
THE MOVIE IS ABOUT… Gabby was trying to get her dollhouse back because someone took it.
MY FAVORITE PART… When Gabby and CatRat were trying to get out of the dollhouse.
MY FAVORITE CHARACTER… MerCat because she was on a boat.
MY FAVORITE OUTFIT… Gabby’s striped shirt, because she loves stripes.
MY LEAST FAVORITE PART… When CatRat was hitting people to get his coins back.
I WAS SO SURPRISED… To find out Gabby has a sister!
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