Dir. Jimmy Hayward & Steve Martino, US, 2008, 88 mins
Cast (voices): Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Isla Fisher, Carol Burnett
Review by Michelle Moore
Dr. Seuss is probably best known for the children's stories The Cat In The Hat and The Grinch, both of which have been adapted for the big screen. Horton Hears A Who is the latest and is the first Dr. Seuss adaptation to be fully animated using CGI technology, from the same team who created Ice Age, Ice Age 2: The Meltdown and Robots.
In this tale we meet Horton, the lovable elephant with a big heart and a big personality, and who's "faithful 100 percent". One day, Horton hears a distant cry and so discovers the town of Who-ville, floating speck of dust, which he captures on a flower. Although he can't see them he aims to help and protect the inhabitants of Who-ville, no matter what, by placing the flower somewhere safe, away from others who can't believe that something so small can hold an entire race. As he says “a persons a person no matter how small."
Horton is less well-known to English audiences than The Cat in the Hat or The Grinch, but with this film he looks set to become a firm favourite. The film's narrative begins with the opening credits and, the signature of Dr Seuss, the rhythnic rhyming of the couplets are reassuringly familiar, simple but quite ingenious, and the imagery is excellent. What is also interesting is the references to characters in other Dr Seuss stories. For instance, there's the appearance of The Grinch when the Who’s are trying to be heard by Sour Kangaroo. Then, as the mayor explains the circumstances to the Whoville public, one can be seen holding a plate of Green Eggs and Ham.
Horton Hears A Who! is the second Dr. Seuss adaptation to feature Jim Carrey. He was physically unrecognisable as the mean ol' Grinch; as the voice of Horton his personality shines through into the character - in a good way - and giving us a kind, sweet-natured and humorous creature, the polar opposite to his previous Dr Seuss outing. His Bruce Almighty cohort Steve Carell is also funny and loveable as the Mayor of Who-ville, and it is the relationship between these two characters that's at the heart of the story, as they hear each other but never meet. Also of note is JoJo (Jesse McCartney) - 'the littlest Who' - a most accurate depiction of a teenager, complete with emo style and sulleness, all of which changes when his undiscovered voice becomes vital in the Who's being heard.
With it's philosophical ruminations - “If you were way out in space, and you looked down at where we live, we would look like a speck” - gentle moral message, wonderful story, delightful characters, and humour that will appeal to both childen and grown-ups, here is a terrific film for all ages.
Trailer
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