The Lorax

Teaming together two of Hollywood’s hottest stars as vocal talents, Taylor Swift and Zac Efron provide the voices for adventurous and mischievousness Ted and the object of his affection, Audrey. Many lads would settle on giving the girl they like a cheeky glance across the classroom as they imagine the all important kiss, not Ted, no not Ted. With the assistance of his rebellious Grandma (Betty White) Ted sets out to impress Audrey in a way that no-one can compete with, he sets about finding her a real tree. 

Look outside I hear you cry, she see trees every day. No, sadly in the world of Thneed-Ville everything is fake, air is a commodity and hardly anyone can remember the last time they witnessed a flower bloom or a tree grow and it’s all because of the evil regime of the Mayor, Aloysius O’Hare (Rob Riggle). He really is quite a vile individual, ensuring that the members of his town are satisfied with the latest fakes, whilst lining his already bulging  pockets as people are forced to purchase bottled air as all of the plants, trees and other oxygen providing items are banned. 

To find out what happened to his town Ted has to learn the woeful tale of The Lorax but it won’t be easy, gaining his information from The Once-ler (Ed Helms) a ruined businessman who lives in the not often visited outskirts of town. He leads Ted to the grumpy, disgruntled creature that is The Lorax – in short, the guardian of the preservation of trees and wildlife, thanks to The Once-ler and his greed many moons ago The Lorax now lives alone, shut up in a battened down old shack, that is until he learns of the boy who wants to see a tree. 

What ensues is an adventure that results in annoying the evil Mayor as Ted, Audrey and his new odd looking friend The Lorax cause the citizens to question why they accept the regime they live by. Largely told through the medium of a good ol’ fashioned sing-a-long. 

DeVito is brilliant, hilarious in parts, the plot is more than a tad odd but what Dr Seuss story isn’t? May I remind you of weirdness of The Cat in the Hat and the strangeness of The Grinch? Setting a Suess story as a full animation is delightful and it comes from the makers of Despicable Me which ensures that the visuals are glorious and full of colour and energy.

Not as well known as other Dr Seuss stories, and leaving many people looking at the picture of a fuzzy moustached creature asking what on earth, what is a Lorax? Go see the film and find out, a lovely tale of friendship, one that has several nice messages to share with the viewers about the environment and our destruction of it plus it’s ideal for adults and kids. 

By Amy Gathercole