Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • March 14, 2012
‘The Lorax’ is 3-D animated version of 1971 book
by Dennis Seuling “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” is the 3-D animated adaptation of a 1971 children’s book that underscored the importance of preserving and valuing nature. Young Ted (voiced by Zac Efron) lives in the prefabricated town of Thneedville, where the landscape is composed of plastic houses and inflatable hedges and trees, and fresh air is sold in water cooler-sized bottles. Things have come about this way because years ago, the reclusive Once-ler (Ed Helms) cut down all the real trees in order to obtain the soft tufts of the truffala trees necessary in the manufacture of his invention, an all-purpose garment. Ted is smitten with a local girl, Audrey (Taylor Swift), who hopes to have a real tree. Primarily to impress her, he sets out to fulfill her dream. As Ted begins his search, he crosses paths with town entrepreneur Mr. O’Hare (Rob Riggle), a mini-villain who sports a Prince Valiant page-boy hairdo, and enlists the assistance of his sometimes dotty Grandma (Betty White). The character of The Lorax (Danny De Vito) is an orange-maned, yellow-mustached, mystical character who acts as a spokesperson and conscience for nature -- sort of a Jiminy Cricket of ecological responsibility. He explains to Ted and the audience the importance of preserving and protecting not only trees but also the wider environment. This theme is worthwhile even if its execution tends to be preachy and didactic. Directors Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda present this cautionary, but insubstantial, tale in an explosion of color and gimmick up the serious message with lots of inyour-face 3-D effects that have become predictable and tiresome. The screenplay, expanded from the book, seems padded even though it clocks in at a modest hour and a half. A few forgettable songs are tossed in more as filler than to move the story forward. The characters of Ted and Audrey are bland to begin with, and the realistic style in which they are drawn makes them even more dull in the rainbow-hued land of animation. The real character standouts are Grandma and Mr. O’Hare, who have been exaggerated just enough to make them funny and memorable. Grandma’s antics tap into Betty White’s current popularity, as Grandma rides motorcycles, wields her cane with the skill of a swordswoman, and becomes Ted’s ally in his quest to bring nature back to Thneedville. Mr. O’Hare is both reprehensible and ridiculous as he piles on profits at the expense of the
A scene from ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.’
townspeople, most of whom have never seen the world outside Thneedville. The now familiar computer-generated animation gives the characters a rubbery, weightless look. The artistry falls far short of the superior Disney Pixar features, which boast stronger scripts. Though it is not an especially bad picture, “Dr.
Seuss’ The Lorax” is not a standout. At this time of year, as the studios bide their time before unleashing their big films during the profitable summer months, a visit with The Lorax and his friends might provide an acceptable -- if not terribly distinguished -- divertissement for young children.