*** Stars
Horton Hears a Who! is not really meant to be a feature length film. In fact, it feels like a cousin to the 1966 classic Grinch tale, which had a 26-minute running time. Horton runs at 88-minutes, longer than intended, but short enough to avoid checking your watch.
The story is sweet and simple. A very lovable elephant named Horton (a wonderfully restrained Jim Carrey) finds a spec attached to a flower in the heart of a nameless jungle. The spec is in fact a world of its own, the town of Whoville. The Mayor (voiced by Steve Carell) cannot believe that there is something bigger outside of their world. The problem lies in the severe climate changes the small town is witnessing. If it continues, their world may come to an end. Horton, being the nice guy he is, says that "a person's a person, no matter how small." He makes the journey to the top of a mountain to make sure the town is never bothered again.
I really don't have a lot to say about Horton. It's a short story that will thrill children and satisfy adults. It relies on slapstick when it runs out of ideas, but it still manages to conclude before you turn against Horton and the Mayor. The classic tale by Dr. Seuss is rendered into flashy animation and voiced with the class and energy Carrey and Carell are famous for.
No comments:
Post a Comment