'Horton' hears a box office smash
MOVIE REVIEW
by TIMOTHY CHIPP Reporter

I want to premise this review of 20th Century Fox's "Horton Hears a Who" by saying that Dr. Seuss was a brilliant author whose words strike a chord to this day with anyone who reads his stories, not just children.

But the stories he writes often get turned into horrific movies. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000) and "The Cat in the Hat" (2003) were horribly written and atrocious to witness.

But the string of bad luck seems to have ended with this animated gem, which stars Jim Carrey (again) and Steve Carell, along with a bevy of comedic actors that turn one of Seuss' best books into one of the best movies of this short year.

I was skeptical entering the theater, unsure whether Carrey could be trusted with another beloved Seuss character (after a poor showing as the Gr inch).

But the story of the jungle of Nool and the microscopic Who-ville and the colorful characters that fill them are perfectly animated and beautifully voiced.

Overall, it remains faithful to the 1954 book's story about an elephant with big ears - and a bigger heart - named Horton (Carrey) and his city-in-a-speck that has fallen onto a clover he must protect.

After saving the talking speck, he travels around with his flower, attempting to assure its safety atop a nearby mountain.

Because of his flower - and his need to tell everyone about the voice - he's ostracized in his jungle home by Kangaroo, voiced by Carol Burnett.

Kangaroo rounds up some friends - and eventually the whole jungle - to capture Horton's clover and end his delusion.

Will Arnett of "Saturday Night Live" plays the evil Vlad Vladikoff, the vulture hit man tasked with capturing and destroying the speck.

While that's going on, the other story takes place in Who-ville, the city in the speck of dust, a place where nothing goes wrong.

The mayor, Ned O'Malley (Carell), begins to notice strange occurrences and soon hears the muffled voice of Horton.

But he's ostracized by the happy-go-lucky residents for his abnormal Who-views.

However, there is a large amount of story added to fill an 86-minute frame with what would be 15 minutes of narration.

Co-directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino and screenwriters Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul melded the classic story and the rest to perfection.

For instance, there is one scene where the mayor's assistant is viewing her WhoSpace page, a nod to the Web site Myspace.com.

Cultural references such as this one fill the story, making it relatable for both children and adults alike.

Adults will enjoy the subtle dialogue and off-the-wall improvisation and double meanings that these animated scripts often bring, while youngsters laugh away at the silly sayings and happenings.

For instance, when the mayor is telling Horton about his life in Who-ville, he says, "I have 96 daughters and one son." Horton laughs and replies, "Whoa, busy guy."

Another scene from Who-ville shows an apartment building being constructed during the chaos of the initial disruptions caused by Horton's otherworldly rescue. The construction foreman yells at the passing mayor, "These buildings don't just build themselves." But after a massive shakeup, the building falls to the ground fully constructed, and the foreman, lounging on a recliner, comments, "Well, I guess they do."

But this story goes above and beyond the funnies. It serves the purpose of relaying a moral that shouldn't be overlooked.

It speaks - as does Horton - to discrimination. Horton's famous insistence that "a person's a person, no matter how small" is the most important message the book - and movie - pass along.

But there are other lessons in the movie.

For instance, it speaks to the gang mentality that often forms when one person stands out in a group. It also speaks to parents who sometimes jump to conclusions without hearing the whole argument, all in the name of protecting their children.

But in classical children's-story fashion, the ending relieves the tension, showing the greatness that lies within us all. And showing the way that even the smallest of voices can be heard above the rest.

All in all, the movie is a must-see for parents looking to take their children to a movie that adults can enjoy as well.