Horton Hears A Who!

New Movie Review.

Seth Rogen as Morton

Directed by: Jimmy Hayward & Steve Martino
Written by: Ken Daurio & Cinco Paul
Starring: Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Carol Burnett, Will Arnett, Jonah Hill, Amy Poehler

Horton Hears A Who! tells the tale of an elephant named Horton who hears a voice in a speck of dust. He makes it his job to protect this speck of dust and the possible tiny inhabitants therein. He, and he alone because of his gigantic ears, initiates contact with the mayor of Whoville, the town contained in the speck. Eventually, the animals that share the jungle with Horton turn on him, unwilling to believe in such small people. The beloved elephant becomes Whoville's only hope in avoiding destruction.

Horton Hears A Who! Is based on Dr. Seuss's beloved story, and may be the most successful movie in bringing his spirit to life. However, that's about as far as the success goes. First off, Jim Carrey's first voice acting job as the elephant, Horton, is a disappointment. I believed Carrey's wacky personality would work perfectly in an animated film, much like with Robin Williams as the genie in Aladdin. Guess not. Steve Carell is much more effective as the mayor of Whoville. The Supporting cast, led by Vancouver's Seth Rogen, is great, although underused.

The original book is wonderful and the movie is best when it comes closest to the source material. The message is heard loud and clear, as well as sincerely. I've never been sure if kids pick up on the morals and themes of works such as that of Dr. Seuss. It certainly is worth a try and if you need to choose a family movie, this will do.

Yes, children will be delighted with the colorful characters and vibrant images but I can't say the same with older viewers. There are some outstanding moments (a hilarious but brief "anime" sequence springs to mind), but not enough for me to recommend this movie. Too often is "Who" used as a prefix for several things in Whoville (even a "Who-Root Canal"), thankfully, the mayor points this out. Too often the jokes are far too immature to garner a laugh. Too rare are the brief appearances by Rogen's character Morton. And nowhere to be found is a truly great, memorable scene. In fact, it gets a little weird towards the end. The kangaroo lady who opposes Horton gathers all the animals to help trap the elephant in order to teach him a lesson. What's odd is the savagely planned method of disposing of The Whoville speck. It seems Kangaroo has prepared a boiling pot which is one speck of dust away from becoming delicious Who-Soup. Whatever, best not to invest too deeply in the creative choices. Ultimately, it's probably best to just get the book for your kids and let Dr. Seuss work his subconscious magic.