REVIEW: 'The Lorax'

CG animated adaptation of the genius Dr. Seuss book about the Lorax, a stout, mustachioed critter who "speaks for the trees". Now playing nationwide, click for movie times. Also playing in 3D.
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We've been waiting a long time for a film adaptation of Dr Seuss's darkest and most thought-provoking tale, but is this the Lorax film we really needed? The animation looks crisp, there are some moments of inspired 3D (involving white-water rapids and a climatic car chase) and the humming fish are a scene-stealing delight, but there's just something missing in translation from that most powerful book.

Perhaps it’s the Lorax himself, who seems shunted into the periphery as the focus falls clearly and squarely on young Ted and his girl-inspired tree search. Whilst Danny DeVito is an inspired choice for his voice, he's left with little to do other than be the voice of doom and be the victim of countless acts of physical abuse. Yes, rather than frighten the kiddies with too much environmental gloom (my four-year-old pronounced it scary but not too scary), the producers have instead decided to up the cartoon violence and song-and-dance numbers - which are sadly unmemorable both musically and lyrically (the latter surely a crime given the source material).

Despicable Me director Chris Renaud's fingerprints are clearly all over the film, from the pint-sized villain (Vector with a sharper wardrobe but dodgier haircut) to the Minion-esque Barbaloots, but the subversive humour that marked out that movie is much more muted here.

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