Dr. Seuss' The Lorax (3D)

Director: Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda

Voice Cast: Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Betty White, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate

“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees.” Those words are a permanent part of the literary heritage. And when the Lorax is around, warily befriending the ambitious Once-ler, you can almost believe you are in the Dr Seuss universe.

Directors Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda respectfully stick to the adaptation template set by Horton Hears A Who! (2008). However, Renaud (also the co-director of the spectacular Despicable Me) along with Balda disappoint with their take on Theodor Geisel’s 1971 cautionary eco-tale Dr Seuss' The Lorax.

A 12-year-old boy Ted (Zac Efron), living in a plant-scarce city called Thneedville, is in desperate search for a plant seed that would enable him to win over the affection of the girl (Taylor Swift) of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of The Lorax (Danny DeVito). Enter the character of Once-ler (Ed Helms) who had once wronged the legend of the trees by mercilessly chopping them down and is now waiting for redemption.

The Lorax has all the gloss and the gimmicks that a heart-felt animation flick requires. It takes you to an unknowing world with endearing characters who preach about a social cause. But its desperate attempt to enchant you fails miserably because of the synthetic story which lacks a strong beating heart. The film tries so hard to be adorable that it loses sight of its stated messages. It lacks the conviction of its counterparts such as Wall-E or Up, which worked on a similar premise. What’s more, the film isn’t true to its title. Considering that the main character on which the film is named, doesn’t even have much to do in the film. Ted remains the central character and his pursuit to obtain the seed forms the crux of the story.

Lorax is a film made for children. The adult audience, especially the fans of the book, will be highly disappointed. Renaud’s earlier film Despicable Me resonates in the characters and in the situations of this film. It just seems like a rehash with a different social message.

The world of animation that we’ve been subjected to in the past, where inanimate objects make you cry and smile at the same time, remains unexplored by The Lorax. The film is not likely to give you anything to take home, except the tickets that you purchased.