Title: Dr. Seuss’ The LoraxDirector: Chris Renaud & Kyle Balda
Writer: Ken Daurio & Cinco Paul (screenplay)
Producer: Chris Meledandri & Janet Healey
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Studio: Illumination Entertainment
Production Company: Illumination Entertainment
In Theaters: March 12th, 2012
Run Time: 86 minutes
Color: Animated
Starring: Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White
Genre(s): animation/family/fantasy
Storyline: (IMDb.com) A 12-year-old boy searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.
Movie Trailer:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_PZr1rqOR0]
My Review: I love Dr. Seuss and every book I ever read of his. I grew up on Dr. Seuss, with a few other popular authors as well in my childhood. Anytime I see a Dr. Seuss movie is being envisioned for the big screen I make it a point to see it and for the exception of the live action Cat in the Hat with Mike Myers, I’ve never been disappointed in those movies. The Lorax was no exception.
Going into the movie I was unaware of the amount of songs that were present. I also found their placement and execution a bit “forced” in. And keeping in mind this movie is supposed to be for “children” I found the lyrics to the songs to be mature and delivered quickly. I doubt the children in the movie theater with me were able to understand the complexities of the word choices for the songs. Most of them dealt with corporate greed and doing whatever necessary to get to the top and how life is all about money and what’s wrong with that idea? Children are not and should not be aware of such evils in the world yet. But then again, children are growing up so fast. Maybe they do “get it” as the movie would have us believe.
I do remember a man (I believe a grandfather) sitting to my right with his two grandsons of about the same age. One child was fixated by the colors and the music and the grandness of the 3-D experience while the other child, every time there was a quiet moment in the movie, would say, “I don’t want to watch this anymore” or “I want to go home” but his words fell on deaf ears. The child who was captivated however was actually on the edge of his chair with awe and if I thought I could get a clear picture without the person behind me wondering what I was doing I would have snapped it. He embodied what taking children to the movies aught to be about. NOT hammering home a message in such a cryptic and sing-song way to children.
The story line, also, seemed a bit awkward and misunderstood by those children present. Obviously the adults taking the children got the teen romance that was brewing in the movie. At best that catalyst for why the main character goes in search of a tree did not have to be played up as it was. It felt like the movie was trying to appeal to too broad an audience.
Then there was the whole point of this movie which was saving the trees equates saving the planet and anyone who doesn’t want to save them is a greedy scumbag. There seemed to be no room for compromise in this movie. Either you did not cut down a single tree or if you did you were evil. Point. Blank. Period. In Hollywood these days, it would not be a great movie if it did not make such bold liberal statements along the way.
Aside from the wordy songs, the rushed storyline(s), and the strangely unsatisfying ending, it was funny and the main character did exhibit some endearing qualities any parent would be proud to see their child emulate. The movie also paid homage to a great story teller, yet again, and he said it best:
“UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” - The Lorax
My Rating: B-
Will you…Run And Tell That?
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