The Wasteland Reviewer

Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie (2025) Written Review

Are you ready to leap into a fun animated world full of big cat energy with our titular heroine? Gabby’s Dollhouse is a fun little series that is loved by little kids, and it received enough attention to encourage Dreamworks to adapt it to the big screen. Gabby has her magic cat ears that make her tiny (and animated) as she explores the world with her magical cat friends. When she has a trip to see her supportive grandma, her magic dollhouse is taken by a weird and rich cat lady (Kristen Wiig). Gabby is off on a whole new adventure full of different animated critters (mostly cats)! 

How does this kids’ show translate to the big screen? The visuals of the film are certainly a mixed bag. The live action elements feel quite flat and feel like an overly lit kids’ sitcom. This is in stark contrast to the animated elements that are so bright and vibrant. The film’s animation is certainly the strong element of the film. The animation is not the best you are going to see but it works well for the film, and it is engaging enough to bring the magical elements of the film to life. The film certainly has that kind of energy as the characters move fast and jump from scene to scene quite quickly. But the overall pacing is sluggish and clunky because the film just feels like it is trying to do so much. The film loses steam at that 75–80-minute mark yet the film is close to 100 minutes. This experience drags for adults and just might do so for the children as well. 

Does the writing for this adaptation deliver? This might be tough to ask so much for a film obviously geared towards little kids…but there are plenty of elements that make this film a lot less effective. Wiig’s cat lady is set up at the start of the film as the antagonist, yet she is just a random side character with little effect on the story itself. The cuts aways to her are fun (because of her) but have no effect on the story and she feels completely shoe-horned into the climax. She is the most entertaining part of the film so her meaningless and inconsequential appearance throughout the film at least has that purpose. The actual narrative that Gabby goes on gets repetitive after a while as they cycle through different places getting the gang back together. The humor is also quite inconsistent with a mix of clever meta humor with silly and awkward humor that will make those 5 years and younger laugh. The film crashes into a clunky and overstuffed finale that just feels thrown together. There is plenty of heart and good, honest themes for the younger folks in the audience which at least gives the film an endearing quality. 

How does the cast fit into this experience? Wiig is by far the most entertaining element (as stated before). She fully commits to the camp and absurdity of such a story and her crazy cat lady role in it. Laila Lockhart Kraner continues her role from the original series with her smiling and overly positive representation of Gabby. The unrelenting positivity of her performance can certainly be a bit much, but it fits into the presentation of the film. Gloria Estefan is the grounding presence of the film as Gabby’s Grandma who gives the film some much needed heart and soul. The likes of Jason Mantzoukas, Thomas Lennon, and Fortune Feimster bring their specific brand of humor to the film (with some fitting better than others). There are a few odd choices of voice work that stick out like sore thumbs with how awkward they come off. But in general, most of the performances work quite well. 

Is Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie a film that will satisfy the whole family? Honestly, this new big screen hybrid film will only keep the attention of the youngest audience members. Wiig is really the only element that might get the adults in the room enjoying the ride. The mix of colorful animation and solid songs bring life to this repetitive and overlong experience. Not a big win for family flicks but one that will at least entertain the little ones.