Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax has been in theaters since March 2nd, but I and my 4 year old daughter just saw it this Tuesday (non-3D). It was great! If you have yet to see it and would like to catch it in theaters, I would highly recommend that you go. If you’re waiting for it to come to On Demand or DVD so you and your family can enjoy it at home, that’s okay too. I would give the movie 4 out of 5 stars.
Common Sense Media says The Lorax is fine for children ages 5 and older, but I’m pretty sure younger children will be just fine as well. It really is a child friendly movie. Fandango says that there is brief mild language. I will assume that would be the phrase, “Shut that mustache,” the one phrase of the movie that stuck in my daughter’s mind. It is only 1 hour and 26 minutes long and held my daughter’s attention from start to finish (well, minus the approximate 10 minutes of previews and ads).
The Lorax features the voices of Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Danny DeVito, and Betty White. The Lorax is a tale from of the fabled Lorax, the speaker for the trees, as told by main character, Ted; although in the opening, the Lorax says that it is his tale. It’s a story about hope and integrity neatly wrapped in a sub-story of a boy trying to win the girl of his dreams affections by finding the story of the Lorax and the true origin of his hometown, Thneedville, in an attempt to find a tree.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Lorax. There was plenty of humor, lots of action, and Betty White! If you’re a fan of Betty like I am, you won’t be disappointed with her performance one bit. There’s enough humor to keep both parents and children laughing. I didn’t run into the usual problem of largely inappropriate humor as a way to keep the adults engaged. There are elaborate and catchy musical/dance sequences that are sure to captivate as well as an easy to follow storyline.
It was a lot of fun. Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, whether in 3D or not, is a great family movie and well worth the two $5 matinee tickets that I purchased. My 4 year old liked it so much, I just may have to buy the DVD in four months.
Watch the trailer here.
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Miriam Hoover is a poet, fiction writer, mother of one, and “Better Grow Girl” blogger. She is currently a freelance writer, working towards a master’s degree in professional writing at Towson University. She has studied under writers such as Michael Downs, Merrill Feitell, Valerie Jean, and Geoffrey Becker.