Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie Review – The Purr-fect School Holiday Movie

Rating: Ameowzing 7/10 (Kiindred Mini-reviewers)  

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If your little ones are already obsessed with the Netflix series starring Gabby and her adorable Gabby Cats, then you’ll be happy to know DreamWorks has brought the hit Netflix series to the big screen for the very first time. Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie is everything fans love about the TV show, dialled up into one big, cinema screen sized adventure. It’s everything rainbow, candy sprinkles and kitty cats that kids will love!

What’s the Story?

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In the new film, Gabby (Laila Lockhart Kraner) heads off on a road trip in a bright yellow kitty-kombi with her craft-loving Grandma Gigi (Gloria Estefan) to the hilariously titled Cat Francisco. But when her iconic dollhouse ends up in the clutches of eccentric cat lady Vera (Kristen Wiig), Gabby has to jump between the real world and her magical dollhouse universe to rescue her friends before it’s too late.

It’s a gorgeous little adventure that mixes silliness with a meaningful message about growing up and remembering how to keep the magic of play in your life. 

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What the Kids Thought

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We took along our Kiindred Mini-reviewers (aged 6, 7, 8 and 10) and they enjoyed it from start to finish. While the Gabby’s Dollhouse series is definitely aimed at preschoolers and younger kids, there was still plenty to keep the older ones entertained too.

Honestly, it was a check in every box… it felt like the movie makers asked a group of kids what sort of stuff they like – and then included it all in the film.

• Cats? ✔️ 
• Mermaids? ✔️ 
• Fairies and magic? ✔️ 
• Rainbows and lollies? ✔️

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New Characters, Big Laughs

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Jonesy The Cat as Marlene Purrkins in DreamWorks Animation’s Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie, directed by Ryan Crego.

The new additions to the Gabby world were instant favourites. Jason Mantzoukas (aka Pimento from Brooklyn 99) voices a slightly creepy toy cat called Chumsley that was giving Lotso from Toy Story 4 vibes. And the little wooden fairy/gnome tribe brought plenty of giggles. The way they animated them was adorable too.

Kristen Wiig is a total scene-stealer as Vera, the kooky cat lady villain. She’s just the right amount of over-the-top, with wild outfits and cat-obsessed shenanigans that make her more funny than scary (and a quiet little nudge to her SNL Liza Minelli impersonation!) The Cat Yoga sequence in particular was so wildly stupid that it just worked and had us all laughing.

Of course, all the original Gabby Cats are back too – Pandy Paws, CatRat, Cakey, DJ Catnip, MerCat and more.

Fun for Parents Too

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Parents will enjoy that the film doesn’t take itself too seriously and isn’t trying too hard to be earnest the way other kids’ series do. I loved the way they played up to the very un-cinema-like convention from the TV series when Gabby breaks the fourth wall, turns to the audience and asks them to help her ‘get small’. The already stressed and unhinged Vera (played by Wigg) plays up to this by looking confused and asking Gabby who she keeps talking to. 

The movie also feels like a full-circle moment for the series, with Gabby now a teenager and edging towards new adventures. It definitely hints that there’s more to come – maybe even a spin-off featuring her little sister and a new puppy-loving crew. (As if we don’t already have enough puppy shows for kids already!)

And we can’t forget Gloria Estefan as Grandma Gigi – the ultimate cat-loving, craft-obsessed grandma we all wish we had.

The Final Kiindred Verdict

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For families looking for school holiday movies 2025, Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie is a top pick for fans of the TV series. It’s funny, sweet, colourful and full of imagination – everything kids want in a big-screen adventure.

If your children are already fans of the Netflix series, they’ll absolutely love it. And if they’re not? They’ll still enjoy it, but might be one to save for a cosy family movie night once it arrives on streaming platforms.

Kiindred Mini-reviewer score: Ameowzing 7/10