Horton Hears a Who!

The third time’s a charm for Dr. Seuss after the outrageous live-action adaptations of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “The Cat in the Hat.”

The 2008 computer-animated film based on Dr. Seuss’s “Horton Hears a Who!” from Blue Sky – the company that released the “Ice Age” films – is frequently charming, beautifully drawn, and far more faithful to the source material than the horrifying Ron Howard-Brian Grazer productions.

Jim Carrey, who arrogantly played the Grinch, is in reasonably controlled form as Horton, a friendly elephant who lives in the jungle of Nool with his mouse friend Morton, voiced by Seth Rogen.

One day, Horton finds a speck of dust on a clover that’s a small planet – where little residents live in a town called Who-ville.

Horton is somehow able to hear the much-disrespected mayor of Who-ville, voiced by a terrific Steve Carrell, but nobody else can. Especially not the overbearing Kangaroo, voiced by Carol Burnett (very good), who thinks Horton has a delusion that causes a danger to the social order of Nool. Lou Lumenick noted in his review, “By some accounts, Seuss (aka Theodor Geisel) intended “Horton,” published in 1954, at least in part as a political commentary on the times, with Kangaroo a surrogate for Communist witchhunter Sen. Joseph McCarthy.”

Lumenick continued, “While that political subtext will still resonate for boomer parents, this cartoon is also a delight for their kids, with beautifully rendered images of Nool and Who-ville, and the book’s original beguiling rhymes recited as narration by the perfectly chosen Charles Osgood.”

The simple story has Horton trying to save Who-ville from extinction by predators and from Kangaroo, arguing more than once that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” (Lumenick noted, “Geisel, adamantly pro-choice, once sued a pro-life group that appropriated his slogan”).

Meanwhile, in Who-ville, the mayor is having a hard time convincing the doubtful public that Horton even exists, much less that they’re in danger unless they come together in a community effort.

Seuss’ short books barely were enough story for half-hour TV specials (an animated “Horton” aired in 1970), so makers of films always have to extend things out with action sequences, and in this case, some clever visual gags.

Screenwriters Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio have added lines for characters voiced by Will Arnett, Dan Fogler, Isla Fisher, Jonah Hill, and Amy Poehler.

However, they and directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino thankfully never stray far from the creator’s gentle quirkiness in “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!”

The only Seuss film I never saw is “The Cat in the Hat,” which I don’t plan to after seeing Nostalgia Critic’s review of it. However, I decided to check this film out, and I loved it. I know that people have criticisms about this, like the anime fight sequences, but I didn’t mind it at all. It was still an enjoyable Seuss film. This and “The Lorax” are the only good ones, in my opinion, even though I know “The Lorax” adds more to the ending that may not have been needed, but I still like those two. Check this film out on Max and I promise you will love this, especially if you’re a Dr. Seuss fan.

Look out next week when I review my yearly “Thanksgiving Movie Reviews.”

The Lorax

Happy Earth Day everyone. Today, I would like to review an environmental film that was a beloved book by Dr. Seuss known as "The Lorax," the adaptation released in 2012.

Billy Tatum started his review by saying, "Directors Kyle Balda and Chris Renaud tackle the work of everyone’s favorite doctor. No, not Dr. Oz, but the one who had us introduced to the joys of anapaestic tetrameter as kids, long before we could pronounce the term." Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax" is an entertaining and preventive story that stays true to the spirit of Dr. Seuss while delivering a message that couldn't have been better told. With only a few handful of pages of source material to work on, it'd be ridiculous to work on the pages that the filmmakers had to tell the story out into a 94 minute film. Luckily, Renaud brings the writing team (Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio) behind 2010's hilarious "Despicable Me" to help tell The Lorax to today's children.

Less depressing than the book, but staying true to its spirit, the story starts with the Lorax warning everyone that the story is not exactly what we think. Ted, voiced by singer in the "High School Musical" trilogy, Zac Efron, is an intelligent 12-year-old in the town of Thneedville, riding through the streets on a sort of motorized bike. Tatum described, "His town is like a cartoon of a cartoon where nothing grows and everything is plastic, including plastic trees." The only thing real is his crush on an artist named Audrey, voiced by the hot Country/Hip-Hop singer Taylor Swift.

When he's told her dream of seeing a real tree, he becomes destined on a quest where he needs the help of his Grammy Norma, voiced by Sue Ann Nivens on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," Rose Nylund on "The Golden Girls" and Elka Ostrovsky on "Hot in Cleveland," the great Betty White. She tells him of a man who lives outside of town called the Once-Ler, voiced by Ed Helms (former correspondent on "The Daily Show"), who might be able to help. Ted successfully escapes the high metal walls that are around the city to find the Once-Ler. When he arrives, the mysterious man tells him his tale. In flashbacks, we see that the Once-Ler was once a bright young man who wanted to become the next best inventor of a product he invented called the Thneed. To get the right fabric, he had to ditch the forest animals that fastly loved him.

Released on Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel's birthday, "The Lorax" is not only perfectly done from a marketing view, but a well made film that pays tribute to Seuss' brains. It's a preventive story against danger on the environment because of man's non-stop greed isn't as dark as the book, but the story is just as suited despite including kids songs and the little bit of love interest.

Tatum said, "Renaud makes the characters just as cute and offbeat as in the book but isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty when showing the Once-Ler’s wreckless ambition, hubris and ultimate quest for redemption. The colorful Truffula trees which resemble giant pinwheels of cotton candy are enticing enough to eat, which makes their loss seem all the more tragic." Consequences are shown without scaring children, but seeing once happy Humming-fish get hit with sludge is enough to even scoff parents.

Tatum said, "The insertion of musical numbers seems a requisite for most animated features, especially in the post-Shrek era. Although they seem a little out of place here, the overall beauty of the animation makes it forgivable."

Danny DeVito as the Lorax who "speaks for the trees" and is introduced in a nice way, uses his voice despite not having superpowers (Remember, this book was made at least 20 years before Captain Planet). Tatum said, "DeVito hits all the right notes lecturing the Once-ler in a stern way that makes you miss real or surrogate grandparents." Rob Riggle as the evil O'Hare is one of the most likable cartoon villains in a long time. Tatum said, "From his inverted bowlcut to his use of twin sinister henchman, you almost feel bad for how he ends up."

Tatum goes on to say, "With 3D being a part of so much live-action, it’s ironic that animation is where it seems the most appropriate. CGI animated chase scenes such as when Ted evades O’Hare and his minions are what truly captures the heart-pounding effects of 3D. While The Lorax doesn’t match the 3D use of How to Train Your Dragon, it’s definitely worth springing for the extra cash."

"The Lorax" is a proof to how a cartoon movie could be done while saying a message that kids need to know. Tatum ended his review by saying, "While their older siblings (and parents) wait to line up for the newest iPad, kids can look at The Lorax and be reminded of what happens when “biggerism” gets out of control and how they can make a difference."

I know that people may not like this movie, but my siblings and I saw this one weekend morning and we all really loved it. I highly think everyone should see this movie, especially if you have children, because it has a message that is really needed. This is a great family movie, especially if you didn't like the live-action Dr. Seuss adaptations.

Check in next Friday for the last installment of "Jack Nicholson Month Part 2."

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Alright everyone, the wait is finally over. I have now seen the 2000 version of Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and now you will hear my thoughts. It’s that type of feeling you get when you finally have opened all of your Christmas presents, you want more after five minutes. Even though nothing seems to be missing, you have that indescribable feeling that you want more. There is so much buildup, that even though you are happy by the end, it’s not enough.

Jim Carrey does a tremendous job as the Grinch, hands down. His facial expressions fit the bad ole Grinch perfectly, without stealing the heart of the most evil Dr. Seuss character in all of his books. Carrey proves here that he is man enough to balance two larger-than-life personalities: the Grinch and himself. The mixture that Carrey gives to his fans – giving enough of himself in the role without annihilating the Grinch in the process – is really the crux of his performance.

Overall, the movie stays true to the message of Dr. Seuss’ original 1957 story and the 1966 animated version, although there’s a good deal of stretching required to make this a feature-length film. In this version, from high atop Mt. Crumpit, the Grinch is positively disgusted at all the Whos in Whoville happy with preparations for Christmas. He decides to go incognito in town to mess up a few things, and runs into Cindy Lou Who, played Taylor Momsen, who’s struggling with her own doubts about the true meaning of Christmas. Interested by this encounter, Cindy Lou goes out around town to ask the townspeople about the Grinch. These parts weren’t in the book, and they don’t seem to add much to the story, except the past history.

At this point, the film comes back to the original story, although it has a handful of computer animated effects and a few instances that play to adult humor. Wait that’s not what Dr. Seuss did in his books. With wonderful costumes and sets made for fantasy, this film should make viewers feel warm, but may not do a good job doing so. Aileo Weinmann ended his review by saying, “The only thing you shouldn't expect is to be surprised, which I must admit I was kind of hoping for.”

It’s not a very good Christmas adaptation, but if you love Jim Carrey going all out, like I do, then you should watch this film. However, there are fillers in here that don’t seem appropriate for this family Christmas special that could have worked if they didn’t make the film this long. Maybe somewhere in the 90 minute mark would have been appropriate if they didn’t add all of these scenes that made you feel dirty. I would have to give this film a 5.

Well, tomorrow is Christmas Day. I think it would be appropriate to end my 25 day of Christmas film reviews with a good special. Find out tomorrow to see what I will review.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Now I would like to review a very special TV Christmas cartoon classic from 1966, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” For those of you who read the Dr. Seuss book before watching this movie already know the synopsis. I am not ashamed to admit that I loved reading Dr. Seuss books when I was a kid, and I still am a fan of him. It’s sad that he is gone, but he left behind a legacy that will forever be passed down upon from generation to generation. His books are more than just books, if you know what I mean.

This special tells the story of the Grinch who hates the Whos down in Whoville because they love Christmas and the Grinch hates it. Then the Grinch comes up with the idea to steal Christmas from the Whos by taking all of their gifts. By the end, he realizes that Christmas is more than just gifts.

What can be said about this film that hasn’t already been said? It has that warm feeling you will get at the end, which a lot of beloved Christmas specials do, especially the ones that you can sit around with the family to watch with. The Grinch is voiced by the man who made the Frankenstein monster his iconic role, Boris Karloff. Let me tell you, for a man who played a novel monster, there couldn’t be anyone better. This role has evil written all over it. What’s really creepy is when you see the Grinch turn his head 360 degrees like how Winnie the Pooh did in the very first Pooh movie, but this one is scary because it’s an evil person. On top of that, the Grinch has his dog, Max, with him the entire time. You have to love the parts where Max is being cute and funny, like when he isn’t controlling the sleigh and is behind it. When the Grinch turns around and sees Max behind him and Max waves to the Grinch, I would be surprised if that doesn’t make you laugh. June Foray voiced Cindy Lou Who and even though she only had one line in the entire special, she was just wonderful.

Seeing this special, you would notice that the Whos are loveable people that you would want to call every single year for your Christmas dinner. When they gather at the center of their town in a circle holding hands singing the “Welcome Christmas” carol, it’s because Christmas is all about your community and sharing. It’s about spending time with the family, similar to Thanksgiving, and if the Grinch would open himself up to love the Whos, he can be a part of their town as well, if he wanted to.

Best thing about this special: the animation. This brings the book to life on screen, and that is the cherry on top. It’s still perfect for a special made in 1966, and the song, “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” sang by Thurl Ravenscroft, is a classic song to hear around Christmas time. This special gets a solid 10, as it deserves.

Just stay tuned tomorrow because we are not even close to finishing my 25 days of Christmas reviews.