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Dr. Seuss's eco-cautionary fable 'The Lorax': movie review

( PG ) ( Monitor Movie Guide )

'The Lorax' is a reasonably entertaining version of Dr. Seuss's eco-cautionary fable.

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Universal Pictures/HONS/AP
'The Lorax' has a lively comic gallery of characters, including Danny DeVito as the titular tree-protector and Betty White as Grammy Norma.
  • By Peter Rainer Film critic

The Lorax – The 3-D animated feature “The Lorax” is a reasonably entertaining rendition of the 1971 Dr. Seuss eco-cautionary fable that now seems all too prescient. It’s about 13-year-old Ted (voiced by Zac Efron), who seeks out the legendary Truffula Tree far beyond the confines of his treeless, prefabricated town of Thneedville, where fresh air is sold in bottles.

Along the way a lively comic gallery emerges, including Ted’s Grammy Norma (Betty White), the orange sprite Lorax (Danny De Vito), and Thneedville’s reigning meanie Aloysius O’Hare (Rob Riggle). Director Chris Renaud and his team have fun with these dithery, frenetic characters. The film is less special when it slows down and takes a breath of fresh air. Grade: B (Rated PG for brief mild language.)

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