Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!

There’s no doubt why Dr. Seuss is one of the most beloved children’s writers of our times. The talented writer/illustrator’s imagination seemed to know no bounds, creating vivid images and timeless characters both with the brush and the pen. Suess’ work has been recreated for film and television many times, to various levels of success, but this latest computer animated telling of one of the good doctor’s most memorable tales is one of the more faithful and entertaining Suess films in recent years.

    Horton, an elephant (voiced by Jim Carrey), is an easy-going and curious chap. One day, his sharp hearing (elephants have big ears, you know) picks up a high-pitched scream that seems to be coming from a tiny speck that’s caught up in the wind. Being the Good Samaritan type, Horton follows after the speck and catches it upon a clover. Turns out the scream came from the Mayor of Whoville (voiced by The Office’s Steve Carell), a city of tiny people who inhabit the speck, unaware of their size and place in the world.

    The animation is bold and colorful and brings Suess’ surreal world to life. The characters look tangible, but also extremely cartoon-y and stylized. The jungle of Nool itself takes on vibrant characteristics as every nook and cranny of Horton’s homeland seems to be crammed with life. Other than the featured characters, even the supporting cast is imbued with a lot of personality. One such minion of Nool, a cute yellow puffball named Katie (voiced by Joey King), becomes a lot more creepy upon closer inspection; she has crooked teeth, is slightly wall-eyed and speaks of an imaginary land where ponies “eat marshmallows and poop rainbows.” Also, in a couple of sequences, the animation strays from the finely rendered CGI look for a more classic cell feel. One sequence early on as the speck is carried by the wind reverts to a look more consistent with Suess’ own illustrations, and later, Horton’s daydream sequence is a hilarious send up to Japanese anime.  



    Horton Hears a Who! has a great voice cast as well. In addition to Carrey and Carell, supporting roles are handled by Apatow company actors Seth Rogan (Knocked Up) and Jonah Hill (Superbad); Arrested Development alumni Will Arnett is hilarious as Horton’s evil foil Vlad Vladikoff and Amy Poehler also lends her vocal talents as the mayor’s wife. Rounding out the stellar cast are Isla Fisher (Definitely, Maybe) and Carol Burnett, who’s positively vicious as the Sour Kangaroo.

    With such a talented comedic cast, Horton Hears a Who! is sure to be funny to young and old moviegoers, though the film is a bit crude in handling its pop culture references, which seem a forced attempt to appeal to Shrek fans. Humor that works in the context of the story—such as a scene where the mayor of Whoville tries to alert the city council of the danger that awaits them—flows more naturally and is a lot more rewarding.

    This film is a great reminder of Suess’ unmatched storytelling ability. His stories are simple to be sure, but in them he’s able to plant seeds that have taken root in the imaginations of his and future generations. Horton Hears a Who! preserves the ambiguity Suess creates; the moral of this story can take many forms, and as a result, is very easy to internalize.

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