Back when I first reviewed Despicable Me, I had commented on the ridiculously strong and prevalent marketing campaign designed to send interest for those little yellow Minions through the roof, and now Universal and Illumination Entertainment were teaming together again and using similar tactics to introduce audiences to The Lorax. Leading up to its release, if you didn’t recognize that little orange creature with the ridiculous mustache, you had to be living under a rock, because he was absolutely everywhere, whether he was judging contestants on The Voice or helping you order breakfast at IHOP. The box office usually experiences a boost in both revenue and quality as March rolls around, and given the talented voice cast and the reputation of the parent studio, hopes had to be high for The Lorax. I may have never read the original Dr. Seuss book, but that small technicality wasn’t going to stop me, because the same was true for Horton Hears a Who!, and I loved that animated translation. So, being a fan of Danny DeVito, Betty White, Ed Helms, and Taylor Swift, I couldn’t wait to see and review The Lorax, even though my spell-check was sure to go through a workout.
Clever, heartfelt, and filled with astounding imagination, The Lorax is an incredibly strong film that is sure to charm audiences of all ages. Beautiful animation is a given, but one of the most surprising accolades involves the catchy and creative musical angle of the film, with the characters often bursting into songs that are sure to be stuck in your head long after you leave the theater. In terms of the voice acting, Danny DeVito may have received top billing, and he does in fact do a strong job, but the true star is Ed Helms, who utilizes his unique personality to effectively portray his character at different and distinct stages of life. If I had to make one complaint, it is that the film’s environmental and anti-consumerism message comes off a little too strongly and both grows wearisome and darkens the mood, but then again, the original book did cause its fair share of controversy. Bottom line, kids will adore The Lorax, and for those older audience members, I guarantee you will enjoy the film more than you’re probably willing to admit.
Overall Recommendation: High
