DR. SEUSS' THE LORAX

Pictures provide by Universal Pictures



Dr. Seuss gets the full-length, big-screen treatment again this time with an eco-friendly message with DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX in 3D.

Ted, a junior high school boy, finds out that Audrey, a high school girl he has a crush on, would love to have a tree in her backyard. This would seem like an easy request to meet, but in their town of Thneadville, run by the O’Hare Corporation, real trees don’t exist. The O’Hare has stripped the town of almost all things organic, and even has ideas of taking over the fresh air supply.

After receiving a tip from his grandmother, Ted heads outside the walls of Thneadville to find The Once-ler, the one person who can make Ted’s, and more importantly, Audrey’s wish come true.



For a film whose message is about breathing life back into its town, DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX could have infused a lot more life into its characters. This solid spinning, but unremarkable tale is missing the key ingredient to what makes Dr. Seuss’ works so inviting: colorful, unique and odd characters.

The Lorax, voiced by Danny Devito, is more or less the only character with a defined personality, and he only serves as a supporting character albeit the title one. Some minor, nameless bears and fish are funny, serving up humor in small doses, but the comedy and heart that was abundant in the last Seuss big-screen affair, HORTON HEARS A WHO, is so mild that not even a jolt from the O’Hare electric company could help.

The story, about saving and preserving trees, is one that is simple enough to follow for young kids, but delivers its theme with a sledge-hammer’s touch.

The color scheme of DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX is brilliant, adding a liveliness to the tale that other animated features lack. The 3D works in some instances, including Ted’s trip over Thneadville’s wall and during The Once-ler’s water-rafting trip, but outside of these moments, the effect is more or less absent.

DR. SEUSS’ THE LORAX is more a triumph in marketing a side character than it is a rebirth of a childhood’s favorite tale.

Grade: C