The Lorax (2012): Dir: Chris Renaud, Kyle Balda / Voices: Danny De Vito, Zac Efron, Ed Helms, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle: A stunning animation that represents those of us concerned with our environment and the state of our world through greed and carelessness. Zac Efron voices Ted Wiggins who wishes to impress Audrey, a female he crushes on. She desires to see a real living tree. Their town has become one plastic landscape with one great joke regarding a villain who sells bottled air since the trees have pretty much been vanquished. Despite cameras being everywhere he manages to escape to the wilderness where he hears of the destructive past from a being who calls himself the Once-ler who regrets actions that have led to the dead scenery around him. He was warned by the mystical Lorax who overlooks the forest. While the concept is appealing, the screenplay is reduced to formula and a climax that viewers will likely see planted long before the seed drops. The appeal lies within creative images of bears, birds, singing fish that scamper on land, as well as marshmallows that descend everywhere. Besides Ted becoming part of a bigger picture, there is Ed Helms voicing the regrets of the Once-ler. Taylor Swift is given the cardboard role of Audrey. Danny De Vito steals the film as the orange oval shaped Lorax who sports wisdom, wit and a thick yellow moustache. Rob Riggle can be funny but voicing the mayor is hardly a great opportunity to showcase his comic potential. Family friendly animation with dazzling comic images and a message of warning when it comes to our trees. Score: 7 ½ / 10
Review of The Lorax
