Dr. Seuss books are something every person in the U.S. grew up with, this writer included. Nightly readings of “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish,” “Green Eggs and Ham,” and “The Cat in the Hat Comes Back” fill many an individual’s childhood memories. It comes as no surprise that if the writer’s name is attached to a film, people of all ages will flock to the theaters to see it. Universal is bringing the latest adaptation of one of his books, “The Lorax,” home for viewers of all ages to enjoy on Blu-ray and DVD.
This charming animated feature tells the story of a little boy named Ted (Zac Efron). He has a childhood crush on older “girl-next-door” Audrey (Taylor Swift). Audrey shares her dream of seeing real trees with Ted. All the trees in their world were cut down before they were born. Ted decides he will find a tree to win the girl’s affection. His journey leads him to a strange old hermit named the Once-ler (Ed Helms). The Once-ler tells Ted he will help him, but only if he listens to the story of the Lorax (Danny DeVito) – a plump and crabby critter who used to protect the trees.
Children and their parents will find a lot to be excited about with “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax.” It’s a fun but cautionary tale. The movie contains all the quirky ingredients you will find in a Dr. Seuss book. It does a great job of delivering a serious message without sacrificing the enjoyment we all find in the rhyming scribe’s many works.
All the actors deliver the way you would expect a cast of big names to. Zac Efron is perfect as the wide-eyed and curious Ted. Taylor Swift brings Ted’s dream girl Audrey to life. Ed Helms is perfect as the crotchety old Once-ler. Danny DeVito completely embraces his role as the Lorax. His gravely and grumpy sounding voice works beautifully here.
The eco-friendly message the movie pushes is an important one. A world without trees would be devastating and detrimental to all life on Earth. However, I’d be lying if I didn’t mention I rolled my eyes at one point or another as I imagined hippies and politically correct tree-huggers dancing around together celebrating Mother Nature. I just think there are more important issues to deal with and fixate on. We all must do our part, though.
The high definition transfer of “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” looks and sounds great. The vibrant colors of the film keep the audience’s eyes glued to the screen. The picture is clean and crisp delivering an enjoyable viewing experience. The dialogue, music, and sound effects are all balanced well in spectacular 5.1 surround glory.
There are plenty of special features loaded into this release. Three all-new mini-movies are included. They’re short but entertaining nonetheless. We also get featurettes like “The Making of the Mini-Movies” and “Seuss to Screen.” A deleted scene, games, and singalongs are present as well.
The 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack of “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” will satisfy watchers of all ages. You get a fun feature film paired with a few new mini-movies and other interactive extras which will thrill consumers. It’s a worthy addition to any family’s movie library.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
DVD Review: “Transformers Prime: One Shall Stand”
DVD Review: “Scooby-Doo! Laff-A-Lympics: Spooky Games”
Blu-ray Review: “Home on the Range”
