THE LORAX

2012, Universal Pictures

Animated

Rating: G

Approx. 86 mins.

THE STORY:

Ted (Zac Effron) is a young teenager living in Thneedville, a completely synthetic city that has been created to compensate for the lack of a livable natural environment. Even air has become an in-demand commodity, bottled like water and marketed like beer.

In an effort to win the affections of Audrey (Taylor Swift), Ted sets off to find a real tree, something that has not been seen in the city for over a generation. On his quest, he ventures beyond the walls isolating Thneedville, to find the Onceler (Ed Helms), a hermit-like character who tells him the story of what happened to the trees. Ted learns how capitalist greed led to disdain for the natural environment, and its subsequent destruction.

Fortunately, Ted is presented with the opportunity to end the curse, so to speak, and to begin the slow process of reversal.  

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE:

• Stupid—repeatedly

VIOLENCE:

• none

TEACHING POINTS:

• The horrors of deforestation, pollution, crass consumption
• Even the worst mistakes can sometimes be fixed

THE UPSHOT:

I love the book and was worried that the movie would not do it justice. I think they have managed to make a film that stands alone by adding details and story lines that don’t appear in the original book, so that Dr. Seuss’ version is more of an inspiration than a bible. I was a little sorry that some of the poetry of the writing was lost in the script—some attempts to insert Seuss’ wordplay land a bit awkwardly—but the consolation is that the book is still there to read. 

Visually, it’s a pleasure, and we all liked the musical numbers—the adults for the clever lyrics, my 4-year old for the upbeat tunes. I wasn’t sure about the curmudgeonly Danny Devito as the Lorax at first, but he grew on me.

Overall, it’s a good family movie with a timely, nicely delivered message. Two thumbs up.

5/5