By Jeanni Ritchie
If you thought Gabby’s Dollhouse was just for preschoolers, think again. The hit Netflix series has stretched beyond the playroom and into theaters with a new feature-length adventure that’s equal parts whimsy, music, and heart.
At the center is Gabby, her magical dollhouse, and her talking “Gabby Cats.” This time, though, the adventure takes them beyond her bedroom and into the paw-pun-filled streets of “Cat Francisco.” (Yes, even the pedestrian traffic lights are cat paws. You just have to roll with it!)
The DreamWorks part live-action, part animated movie brings big-name voices with it: Laila Lockhart Kraner, reprising her role as Gabby from the hit television series, carries the heart of the story with charm and energy; Kristen Wiig steals the show as Vera, a delightfully over-the-top villain; Gloria Estefan lends her iconic voice and musical sparkle; and the whole Gabby gang shines in colorful, cat-tastic chaos. Preschool fun doesn’t get better than this — and I say that with a grin, because preschool fun happens to be my favorite kind of fun.
And I didn’t just sit back and watch. At one point, Gabby needed a little help getting back into her dollhouse after it was stolen, so there I was in a giant theater, happily chanting along: “a pinch to my left, a pinch-pinch to my right.” Yes, cat ears included. Yes, joy fully restored.
And Gabby’s not stopping at the movies. Gabby’s Dollhouse Live! is hitting the road, including shows at both the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville — right when I’ll be in town next month. Talk about perfect timing.
I loved every bit of it because it leaned into joy, imagination, and the kind of storytelling that reminds us life’s sweeter when you look at it with wide eyes — even if those eyes are topped with kitten ears.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist and part-time preschooler from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
