The Lorax
2/4
Starring (voices): Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Rob Riggle, Taylor Swift, Betty White
Rated PG for Brief Mild Language
Short stories do not necessarily make bad movies, even ones as short as those written by Dr. Seuss (I liked "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"). Their brevity demands that the stories become plot outlines, so the difference between a good movie and a bad movie lies in the material that fills in the substantial breaks. Ron Howard buffed up the Grinch with heart and comedy. The team behind "The Lorax" attempts to do the same thing, only with much less satisfactory results.
Ted (Efron) is a young boy with a crush on his neighbor, Audrey (Swift). What she wants more than anything is to see a real living tree; quite a dream for someone in Theedville, where absolutely everything is manufactured in plastic, and bottled air is even sold. But like every adolescent boy lusting after a beautiful girl, he tries to make her dream a reality. To that end, he seeks out the Once-ler (Helms), who may know what happened to them. But there's someone who doesn't want Ted to succeed, the local air-businessman Mr. O'Hare (Riggle), who, despite looking and acting like Edna Mode from "The Incredibles," essentially runs the town.
Family films, especially ones of the animated variety, are known for two things: a lack of subtlety (kids don't typically have long attention spans) and lots of action (ditto). Both are in evidence in "The Lorax," only in extreme amounts. The film is constantly preachy to nearly sickening levels, and is filled from top to bottom with artificial and bloated action sequences. Not to mention the insipid songs that occasionally pop up ("The Lorax" will make you appreciate the dynamic songs that were included in Disney's Golden Age movies).
The voice acting is on solid ground. Despite a few big names, they all successfully hide behind their characters. Zac Efron is solid as the idealistic Ted. Taylor Swift is very good as the affectionate Audrey. Ted and Audrey's relationship, undeveloped as it is, rings true. Ed Helms makes for a good Once-ler (his relationship with his demanding parents also works), and Rob Riggle makes for a fatuous villain (his burly henchmen are clearly reminiscent of the Belleville Sisters in "The Triplets of Belleville"). Danny DeVito is terrific as always as The Lorax.
It would be wrong for me to criticize "The Lorax" for overdoing the visuals (that sort of comes with the territory...with Dr. Seuss, the mantra is "more is more"). But I can criticize it for being shallow, hyperactive and cloying. A little subtlety would have been welcome...even if it is a kids movie.
Starring (voices): Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Rob Riggle, Taylor Swift, Betty White
Rated PG for Brief Mild Language
Short stories do not necessarily make bad movies, even ones as short as those written by Dr. Seuss (I liked "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"). Their brevity demands that the stories become plot outlines, so the difference between a good movie and a bad movie lies in the material that fills in the substantial breaks. Ron Howard buffed up the Grinch with heart and comedy. The team behind "The Lorax" attempts to do the same thing, only with much less satisfactory results.
Ted (Efron) is a young boy with a crush on his neighbor, Audrey (Swift). What she wants more than anything is to see a real living tree; quite a dream for someone in Theedville, where absolutely everything is manufactured in plastic, and bottled air is even sold. But like every adolescent boy lusting after a beautiful girl, he tries to make her dream a reality. To that end, he seeks out the Once-ler (Helms), who may know what happened to them. But there's someone who doesn't want Ted to succeed, the local air-businessman Mr. O'Hare (Riggle), who, despite looking and acting like Edna Mode from "The Incredibles," essentially runs the town.
Family films, especially ones of the animated variety, are known for two things: a lack of subtlety (kids don't typically have long attention spans) and lots of action (ditto). Both are in evidence in "The Lorax," only in extreme amounts. The film is constantly preachy to nearly sickening levels, and is filled from top to bottom with artificial and bloated action sequences. Not to mention the insipid songs that occasionally pop up ("The Lorax" will make you appreciate the dynamic songs that were included in Disney's Golden Age movies).
The voice acting is on solid ground. Despite a few big names, they all successfully hide behind their characters. Zac Efron is solid as the idealistic Ted. Taylor Swift is very good as the affectionate Audrey. Ted and Audrey's relationship, undeveloped as it is, rings true. Ed Helms makes for a good Once-ler (his relationship with his demanding parents also works), and Rob Riggle makes for a fatuous villain (his burly henchmen are clearly reminiscent of the Belleville Sisters in "The Triplets of Belleville"). Danny DeVito is terrific as always as The Lorax.
It would be wrong for me to criticize "The Lorax" for overdoing the visuals (that sort of comes with the territory...with Dr. Seuss, the mantra is "more is more"). But I can criticize it for being shallow, hyperactive and cloying. A little subtlety would have been welcome...even if it is a kids movie.
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