“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Moody youngsters take note: the film version of Horton Hears a Who! represents the character of Jo-Jo as a sensitive and hardworking genius who looks like a mini-emo rather than the “twerp” he is in the book. Even if you can’t relate to a kid who looks sad most of the time because his dad doesn’t listen, there’s plenty to enjoy in this wonderfully funny and visually delightful take on Dr. Seuss’s tale of an elephant who saves the tiny people of Whoville thanks to some clover and a willingness to believe in something even though it can’t be seen. The movie features the voices of several comedy giants, including Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen and Carol Burnett as an authoritarian kangaroo. Given the kangaroo will do anything to uphold the status quo and ensure the jungle’s children don’t exercise their imaginations, it’s no surprise she’s pouchschooling her joey (a wonderful dig at the kind of homeschooling that’s all about indoctrination and keeping difference at bay). Meanwhile, the councillors of Whoville are angry that plans to celebrate their supposedly utopian community’s centenary are being disturbed by the Mayor’s warnings about the danger they’re in. Just like all the best movies for littlies (e.g. Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin); there’s humour, pop culture references adults can embrace, dramatic tension, good versus evil, and a happy resolution, while fans of Seuss’s nonstop rhymes won’t be disappointed. Alas, also like a lot of films for littlies, it’s rather sexist, with the Mayor’s daughters being vacuous and apparently unsuitable to follow in their father’s footsteps.
Although many reviewers have being carrying on like a bloke who’s just received the blow-up doll he ordered on the Internet in the mail about Lars and the Real Girl, the film didn’t do it for me. I should concede I wasn’t in the mood to see a quirky story about really nice folk when I purchased my ticket (where are Bruce Willis flicks about fighting evil terrorists when you need them?). Alas, instead of buying a giant packet of M & Ms and going home to feed the cat, I persisted with the movie. Anyway, Lars is a socially awkward chap who buys a life-sized doll called Bianca online for the purposes of companionship, although not of a sexual nature. Undoubtedly, the filmmakers knew a tale about a lonely guy with a delusional disorder would be less palatable if the fellow also has sex with the doll he thinks is a real woman. That would’ve made the movie more “ewww” than “ohhh” (muttered sadly). There are amusing moments as friends and family try to come to terms with Bianca, and Lars’s brother’s pain at the situation is moving, but the ending was as believable as something totally unbelievable (e.g. President Hillary Clinton or townsfolk turning up to a funeral for a doll).
I haven’t seen Lars, but the plot reminds me of an old favourite - “Harvey”.
Yes, I love Jimmy Stewart, and I am certainly a fan of such films as “It’s a Wonderful Life”.
Perhaps I’ll see Lars again and give it another go.
Horton - 5 stars.
now that it is out i feel kind of surprised that it has taken hollywood this long to do a movie like Lars . . . i started to notice all the cars in Los Angeles with blow up girls in the passenger seats, in 02, just weeks after arriving, like the dumb cyclist that i am it took me over a year to realise that they were there so the cars could travel in the car pool lanes, not for a bit of lov’n at the traffic lights.
I’m looking forward to Horton, and am wondering if they have used any of the editorial cartoons from PM. Art Speigleman said that they show what ‘happens when Horton hears a heil’
cheers
Best kids film Ive seen!
5 stars is very good, wbb. It’s deserved, although I wonder if the little kids in the cinema enjoyed it as much as the adults (the kids were rather quiet).
Is that right, dylwah? That’s funny. To think of all those drivers driving around with a blow-up doll next to them.
“I’m looking forward to Horton, and am wondering if they have used any of the editorial cartoons from PM. Art Speigleman said that they show what ‘happens when Horton hears a heil’”.
That’s also funny, and a little bit dark. Horton is so lovely, its horrible to think of him hearing a heil. Speigleman is a real genuis. Love his “In the Shadow of No Towers”.
Best kids film, hey Lefty E? It was good, although I have seen plenty of good ones (those Pixar people are very talented).
Yes it is a bit dark, but Horton is dark. Speiglman is being a bit disengenuois (sic). Horton is about the Japanese, Yertle is Hitler. Geisel’s wartime cartoons are pretty dark, but then the subject matter is as well. I found it a bit of a shock to see that familier style turned to the project of exhoting his fellow countryfolk to war against Germany and Japan esp these days when there are so many false analagies to Hitler and other threats.
since my first post i’ve been looking for a decent link but i can’t find any of the cartoons on line, PM is this paper [link]
Ahhh, thanks for that, dylwah. Was unaware of the political intent of Horton (although one could certainly see politics in the movie).
Well, my daughter loved, but in fairness, one ought to report the feminist critique. [link]
Interesting blog that Mother Jones.
The 96 daughters and one son thing was an unfortunate aspect of an otherwise great film. The girls were real “girly girls” (i.e. only cared about superficial stuff) and the boy was the one who saved the day (even though he was a moody emo kid). It should be noted that the most intelligent person in Whoville was a woman (voiced by Australia’s own Isla Fisher).
Horton’s the first movie our 3 y.o. has sat through. She didn’t ‘get’ it, but is still dancing around chanting the lines ‘On my speck, the people are all little ponies, who eat rainbows and poop out butterflies’.
It is a great film. Forget gender analysis of the 99 person mayoral family.
My only disappointment was that the traditional style of animation of Whoville, true to Seuss’s original drawings, was not used in the ‘real’ world jungle scenes. But I guess the production company knows that cutesy sells better.
That’s lovely about your little one, Graeme.
Well, I really loved the manga part, I must say. I guess the different animation illustrated the differences in communities. I think in the book it’s a sort of a different look as well.