Cut to the chase: The wildly popular mixed-media preschool series “Gabby’s Dollhouse”, which first premiered in 2021 on Netflix and features 76 episodes over 11 seasons, is finally hitting the silver screen with its first feature film, a familiar escapade that is neither inventive nor egregious. This installment will appeal to even the youngest of Gabby fans with enough colorful animation and cute newcomers to fill its 98-minute runtime. Parents are likely to be lulled to sleep, but “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” gives the target demographic exactly what they want: more of the same.
(Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures)
Synopsis of “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie”
Child actor Laila Lockhart Kraner reprises her role as the titular character Gabby, a sweet and earnest adventurer who uses magical cat ears with a “pinch on the left, pinch-pinch on the right” to shrink herself down to a size conducive to playing inside her enchanted dollhouse. Her best friends are the Gabby Cats, small figurines who live inside the dollhouse and who come to life when she’s ready to play. The gang is all back for this latest installment: Pandy Paws, Cakey Cat, CatRat, MerCat, DJ Catnip, Kitty Fairy, Pillow Cat, Carlita and Baby Box. Gabby and friends are visiting Grandma Gigi (played by Gloria Estefan) in San Francisco. After a series of mishaps, the dollhouse lands in the hands of a strange, cat-obsessed woman named Vera (played by SNL’s Kristen Wiig). The dollhouse joins Vera’s feline-themed collection and is destined to be lost as another ignored item on her shelf.
It’s up to Gabby to find her Gabby Cats and rescue the dollhouse from Vera and Chumsley, Vera’s misguided childhood toy cat brought to life by Gabby’s magic. The journey will take them to new lands, like the large fish tank where MerCat has created a vibrant underwater world or the lush garden where Kitty Fairy has become ruler of the local twig creatures. In the process, Gabby may also teach the grown-up a thing or two about friendship, self-confidence, and, most importantly, living with a healthy imagination.
Gabby and Pandy Paws (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures)
Post-Viewing Thoughts from a 5-Year-Old
- What was your favorite part of the film? “I really liked all of it. If I had to pick one part, I liked where they transformed to a snowy place where the snow was frosting and there was candy and sprinkles. That looked so yummy. I wanted to eat it, but I liked watching it.”
- Was Vera scary? “No, not really. I liked her, and she was really funny. Her cat [Marlene] did yoga, and it made me laugh. I thought it was so funny when she said, ‘Hey girl bye.’”
- Was it similar to the television series? “Just a little bit. There was a new cat [Chumsley] who was funny and cute. I liked [the movie] more than the TV show!”
- Who do you think would like this movie? “I think my friend Avery would like it. I think a person that likes the show will like the movie. They will like that she can shrink into the dollhouse. I like to pretend to play like [Gabby].”
Kristen Wiig as Vera (Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures)
Imagination Exploration: The Film’s Core Message
Of all the many things “Gabby’s Dollhouse” is (or isn’t), the idea of using one’s imagination is certainly its most potent and important message. Gabby has free rein of the dollhouse because she allows herself to get swept away by her imagination. I’ve heard my daughter say multiple times that she also likes to “do like Gabby” and “get small” into her own dollhouse while she plays with her figurines. The emphasis on imaginative play and on creating one’s own characters and storylines is directly linked to freedom of expression and confidence-building in young children.
The mixed-media aspect of “Gabby’s Dollhouse”, which takes place in the live-action real world as well as in an animated/CGI realm, creates the idea that multiple worlds can exist at the same time, a concept certainly appealing to young explorers who are just learning to create things with their minds. Visually, it makes for a more interesting show, particularly for younger viewers who haven’t graduated to full-time, live-action content. This film, in particular, is easy on the eyes, a feast for young viewers who will adore the rainbows and fairies sprinkled throughout. The 5-year-olds accompanying me to this screening were enamored with the animation and the fluffy, colorful aesthetic that many girls this age adore. It’s a flirty mix of pastels and cat-inspired style that they continue to reference days later.
(Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures)
Age Recommendations and Parent Guide
- MPAA Rating: G
- Recommended Age: 4+
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Nightmare Inducers/Difficult Concepts: With a G rating, there is very little that could cause the viewer to be scared. Wiig’s antagonist, the eccentric Vera, is an extension of her SNL personas rather than a legitimate villain. In the film’s climax, Gabby does have a momentary crisis of identity as the concept that she will eventually get older and not want to play with her dollhouse looms ever closer, but the film brushes by it swiftly. Gabby is as imaginative and sweetly-spirited as ever.
