A Review : Dr Suess’ Horton Hears a Who : Movies

[Epsi]

Cute animals, who talk and have human-like aspirations, their struggle to shine in the midst of adversity, sharp, smart ass dialogs spoken by famous Hollywood actors, great soundtrack and ta---da---- (drum rolls, please) life lessons for the kids. Since parents don’t have the time to impart values to the kids, Hollywood has taken that responsibility.

You must have guessed, I’m not an animation fan. Seriously, sometimes I think, why anyone would pay to watch animation in theater. I realize there are many, many diehard fans of animation but I don’t get what the fascination is. Hasn’t the formula become vintage?

Can we digress from the formula of animation films, please? It is screaming to be changed! Can someone please make a mainstream dark animation film, an animation film for adults? How long will animation films be peppered with grown-up jokes so that adults accompanying the kids don’t die of boredom?

Dr Suess’ Horton Hears a Who is based on a 1954 classic book of the same name written by Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr Suess. Rhyming text and extraordinary creatures was his trademarks. Horton (voice provided by Jim Carrey) is an elephant living in the jungle of Nool. On the 15th of May Horton hears voices coming from a speck of dust. He soon realizes that an entire planet called Whoville resides on this speck. The residents of Whoville called the Whos led by their mayor (voice of Steve Carell) ask Horton to help them in looking for a safer dwelling. Horton believes that a person’s a person, no matter how small and happily agrees to help the Whos. Both Horton and the mayor face scorn and ridicule from their friends and co-habitants but both stick to their belief in each other and all ends well.

The film is has done a good job of sticking to Dr Suess’ rhyming text and portraying extraordinarily weird creatures. Of course, how could a film be a modern animation film without short, witty, staccato dialogs filled with contemporary wit?

The story’s underlying message that every single being deserves respect and has a right to live a decent life, turns out to be very significant in today’s polarized world. But that crucial message conveniently got lost in realpolitik. Over the years pro-life groups have tried to use the phrase, “a person’s a person, no matter how small” in pushing their anti-abortion agenda. American Life League, one of the largest pro-life organizations in the US has even published a pamphlet using the phrase as a title. That drew the ire and a lawsuit from Theodore Geisel’s widow Audrey Geisel.

Kids should check out the website http://www.hortonmovie.com/splash.html. It is a nicely done website with good graphics. The website provide information about the movie in 12 languages! All the way from the cast and the crew to the sound track and Release dates across the globe and much much more information. It also has a mobile option on the menu. Also included are cool stuff and fun and games for the kids to explore.

Even the film’s premiere (the film releases on March 14th) on March 8th turned out to be a forum for pro-life protests. Isn’t there a place, time and occasion for everything?

[mom2manyboyz]

Thanks for this post. I always loved this Dr. Seuss movie as a kids. Seeing your review reminded me that I need to get it for my own kids. Nothing like the classics!

[leighdu]

This is an excellent review, and I like how you touched on the different aspects of this movie. We saw it a week after the premiere, and the whole family fell in love with this movie. It's a must see for adults and children alike.

[skydancer]

I had never read the book. Yet, I thought that the movie was incredible. I really, really liked it. This surprised me because I really wasn't sure that I'd get into it like I did. Thanks for posting this very excellent review.

[Susan]

I went with my daughter to see this movie and I can tell you that since kids, I have become an animation fan. However, I really did not enjoy this movie. I thought that it lacked creativity (pretty much exactly like the book) and thought it would benefit with more music entertainment. I think during the whole movie the only song I heard, was at the very end.

This would be a good movie to pop in the dvd player at home to entertain the kids, but not the adults. To have to torture the adults for over 80 minutes was not my idea of a good time.

I'm surprised it grossed so much at the box office.

JMHO

[sandcar]

I have to agree with the majority here; I was expecting so much more from this movie. I don't think me nor my kids laughed once during the whole thing. We were very disappointed. Very good review, by the way.

[munian]

The residents of Whoville called the Whos led by their mayor (voice of Steve Carell) ask Horton to help them in looking for a safer dwelling. Horton believes that a person’s a person, no matter how small and happily agrees to help the Whos. Both Horton and the mayor face scorn and ridicule from their friends and co-habitants but both stick to their belief in each other and all ends well.