SMT Weekly Flick
Seuss-ified Again
A “Who” with the voice of Steve Carell adds laughter to “Horton Hears a Who.”
Horton Hears a Who (Rated G) 110 mins
If there is anything we know for sure about Dr. Seuss, it is that his stories have stood the test of time. Proving this once again is the release of Horton Hears a Who, yet another movie based upon the illustrious Dr.’s work. With the other movies being fairly hit or miss, I went in a little skeptical, my hopes being much more for another How the Grinch Stole Christmas (which was well done and quite funny) and not for another Cat in the Hat (probably the low point of Mike Myer’s career). What I got was neither, and all for the better.
Anyone who has ever read Dr. Seuss should know the basic storyline, which is directly taken from the 1954 classic book. One day Horton the elephant comes across a speck in the air from which voices are coming. He gathers it and soon discovers an entire civilization living on the minute area. Not wanting anything to happen to the many living there, Horton takes it upon himself to be the protector of the speck. As Horton alone can hear the residents of Who-ville he finds it hard to convince others of his discovery, and as a result spends the remainder of the movie defending them from other animals in the jungle who think he has lost his mind.
Unlike previous theatrical adaptations of Seuss’ work, Horton is done completely in CGI, enabling the creators to truly recreate Seuss’ unique vision. Unlike Grinch and Cat, Horton is not limited by the physical universe but instead is set free by the limitless abilities of animation. Here Seuss’ world is as colorful and alive as ever, and I believe the good Dr. himself would be in awe if he could see his characters here. Blue Sky studios (who also made Ice Age) deserves a great deal of credit for its work in Horton, as they were sure to include every detail of the original drawings and incorporate them here, literally bringing the book to life. Also unlike previous Seuss installments, Horton keeps much more to the original work, rarely deviating from the storyline or the dialogue. All this contributes to the creation of the most authentic recreation of Dr. Seuss we have seen yet, and any fan would be foolish to miss it.
Another key component to Horton’s success is the voice work, and here it is impeccable. Jim Carrey and Steve Carell both temper their usual outlandish comedic styles for their roles, and by doing so they find the perfect complement to their on-screen personas. Both Carrey and Carell continue to show that they are much more than just regular “funny guys,” and both impress here. Also along for the ride are the voices of Seth Rogen (Knocked Up), Will Arnett (Blades of Glory), Amy Poehler (Blades of Glory), Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers), and Carol Burnett (the Carol Burnett Show). A nice surprise is the addition of Burnett, who proves that she still can steal a scene or two, even if it is just her voice! All are perfect in their roles, creating an entire cast of colorful, interesting characters the viewer can enjoy for the duration.
Of course, all of these things are good for the movie, but when all is said and done the main question is, “is it fun?” and Horton most definitely is. There is plenty to keep the young ones satisfied as they gape at the bright and wondrous world presented to them onscreen. They will love the funny characters and good-humored jokes which abound, and those older will find plenty to keep them smiling as well. Nearly all of us can remember reading a little Dr. Seuss when we were younger, and Horton provides a chance to relive that time for a little while again. As a story, Horton Hears a Who has entertained and delighted for 54 years, and its new incarnation should do the same for another 54. After watching Horton, I’m pretty sure a dose of childhood for all of us is exactly what the Dr. ordered.
SCORE 4/5
