"Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who" (2008) - Movie Review

“Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!” is a purely unadulterated comedy. It comes so much near to the 2007 classic animation “Ratatouille” and that is telling something. Not coming up to the par of that does not reduce this funny, thoughtful and fable comedy a bit in its standards because “Ratatouille” address even wider audience because it had that freedom. Adapting from Dr. Seuss’ book of the same name, its main audience are kids and directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino gets the perfect casting and their funny improvisations take the parents to a fun ride as well who will be accompanying their kids.

It is how an elephant named Horton (voiced by Jim Carrey) hears something in a speck wherein a town named Whoville exists with lots of creatures guided by the under appreciated Mayor (voiced by Steve Carell). Horton vows to safeguard the speck even against the threat of a self proclaimed ruler of the jungle, a Kangaroo (voiced by Carol Burnett). Rest is the adventure of Horton understanding the community of Whoville and the Mayor’s struggle to warn the city, and the whole nine yards.

As predictable the story moves on, it is the casting and the heavy character influences each bring in of themselves to these talking creatures distinguishes the “Horton Hears a Who!”. Take Carrey for example, we know it is Carrey and we are reminded of his annoyingly funny Ace Ventura but he is softer here in his own way. Like in real life, Carrey’s maturity is accompanied by his irresistible comic timing. He is the guy who can adapt his voice to an ant and make it the whimsically interesting character. The Horton he voices has an iconic cuteness and goodwill in the comments he makes. Carell then adds another dimension to his loser but amicable and affectionate Mayor of Whoville. But Seth Rogen as Horton’s rat buddy Morton is brilliant as any small character you have seen. And just when you think that Will Arnett blows our mind in his old out of the job evil comic vulture Vlad.

Animation films achieve its cinematic purpose when the voices are a mode of modulation at its best to suit the characters. True in its sense, this casting for voices invites more audience than expected for a kid’s film. The kids obviously will be fantasized and thrilled by the elephant saving the goodness of Whoville from the evil clutches of the people who want to destroy it. As an adult who will be aware of Carrey, Carell, Rogen and Arnett it changes itself into a great different entertainment for them. In “Ratatouille” it was aimed at an audience of higher age while the kid’s are enthralled by the rat but here it amalgamates and comes out without any slightest sense of border lining on adult jokes, it entertains.

To discuss the animation techniques is a pushed in obligation but that forms the soul which has come to a point we take it for granted. The computer graphics technology has made it look easy enough in bringing out quite a number of films to appear it that way. I have not read the book but the screenplay of Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul has added the new trends in the kid’s cartoon to it. The Japanese Anime parody is marvelous and I was laughing crazily for it.

I have rarely mentioned on which audience a film addresses because I believe everybody has the capability if they have the patience to see through the art in it. A kid’s film is not quite that way as the intended audience is generally clear enough. But the trend of embracing the parents who come along with them has been running from “Tom and Jerry” and “Bugs Bunny” days. Intelligent directors and soul play of current actors have made “Horton Hears a Who!” taking from those to build it beyond parents to any one. This is 2008’s impressive animation movie I have seen so far. A must see for the parents and kids too.