Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!, a Movie Review

The new Horton Hears a Who! movie is Hollywood's latest effort to bring a Dr. Seuss classic children's story to the big screen. This Twentieth Century Fox animated movie boasts a voice cast which includes Hollywood comedic heavyweights Jim Carrey, Carol Burnett, and Steve Carell. The movie was released for public audiences on Friday, March 14, 2008.

The Animation of Horton Hears a Who!

I had the opportunity to view Horton Hears a Who! with my children on the opening day. In my opinion, this movie was by far the best attempt at adapting a Dr. Seuss story into a movie. I believe it was a smart move to rely on state-of-the-art animation for Horton Hears a Who! instead of following in the footsteps of the previous movie adaptations of Dr. Seuss stories, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat in the Hat. Both of these movies, starring Jim Carrey and Mike Myers respectively, tried rather unsuccessfully to bring Dr. Seuss' characters to life through the use of spastic and somewhat adult humor, outrageous attire, and loads of makeup. Although these two movies were marketed to children, I personally found much of the content and humor to be quite adult in nature. By opting to use computer animation for Horton Hears a Who!, the producers of this story created a movie that is more attractive and appropriate for its younger viewers, yielding a G rating.

The Storyline of Horton Hears a Who!

Horton Hears a Who! tells the story of a gentle, fun-loving elephant (played by Jim Carrey) who hears a voice calling to him from a small speck of dust that lands on a clover. He soon makes contact with the man behind the voice, the Mayor of Whoville (played by Steve Carell). Once Horton discovers there is an entire city living on this tiny speck, he determines to find a safe-haven for them and save their world. He sums up his true commitment with these classic words from Dr. Seuss, "I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful, one-hundred percent!" In his quest to save Whoville, Horton discovers the only safe place for this clover in the Jungle of Nool is high on a mountaintop. Staying true to his word, Horton sets out for the mountaintop and faces the ridicule and opposition of his friends and neighbors, led by an overbearing Kangaroo (played by Carol Burnett). Meanwhile in the city of Whoville, the Mayor is also receiving flack for his outlandish story about communicating with an invisible elephant who's carrying their city on a small clover. Of course, as with all of the great Dr. Seuss stories, Horton Hears a Who! ends on a happy note. Horton regains the love and respect of all his neighbors and the village of Whoville is saved from certain annihilation.

The Changes in Horton Hears a Who!

The movie Horton Hears a Who! captures many of the classic elements of the beloved 1954 Dr. Seuss story but also takes a few liberties to stretch the short tale into a 90 minute film. Viewers expecting an exact adaptation of the story may be a little disappointed with the additions the movie makes to the Dr. Seuss classic. For example, upon learning that he must save Whoville, Horton imagines himself in a Pokémon world fighting scene. While humorous, this scene was obviously an attempt at modernizing the traditional story. Another addition was the Horton Hears a Who! ending. A comical rendition of the REO Speedwagon classic, "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore," was featured at the conclusion of the movie. While some of the changes to the story were uncharacteristic of Dr. Seuss, my children and I still found the movie to be fun and entertaining.

The Premise of Horton Hears a Who!

The Horton Hears a Who! movie reintroduces a simple yet memorable Dr. Seuss story to children of all ages. In a time when so many movies, even those intended for children, are packed with violence and rude behavior, this film offers an uplifting alternative. The basic premise taught to children throughout Horton Hears a Who! is best summed up in the words of Horton himself, "A person's a person, no matter how small." This principle is one that children and adults alike would do well to remember!